All language subtitles for Merrills.Marauders.196

Narrator: January, 1942.

The high-water Mark
of Nazi conquest.

Hitler's armies hammered at
the gateway to the near east.

Their Japanese allies
poured across Asia,

an irresistible flood
of men and weapons

driving to link up
with the Germans to the west,

crushing the world between them.

Sweeping into Burma,

they captured
the vital air base at myitkyina

and cut the Burma road.

Our forces, pitifully weak,

retreated along elephant trails,

through jungles,
across rivers and mountains

to the temporary refuge
of India.

General Joseph stilwell said
the last word on the campaign.

I claim we got
a hell of a beating.

We got run out of Burma,
and it's humiliating as hell.

I think we ought to find out
what caused it,

go back, and retake the place.

Meeting in Quebec,

president Roosevelt
and prime minister Churchill

ga ther their strength.

To India, they sent our men...

Irish, English,

scot and Welsh,

Australian, New Zealander,

Gurkha, sikh...

And from the United States
came 3,000 volunteers...

Seasoned jungle fighters,
veterans of guadalcanal,

new Guinea, bougainville...

Men who responded to a call
for one dangerous

and hazardous operation
somewhere.

Organized as the 5307th
composite unit provisional

and placed under the command

of brigadier general
frank d. Merrill,

they became a part of the forces

which sought to regain Burma.

On January 4, 1944,
the invasion was launched.

Merrill's mission...
To sneak behind enemy lines,

surprise, and destroy
the main Japanese supply base

in north Burma... walawbum.

Moving in three columns,

spearheaded
byan advance platoon...

Its point...

They succeeded
in making their way undetected

through 200 miles
of Japanese territory.

After three months in
the cruelest jungle on earth,

the point was close to its goal.

Bend in the trail.

We better see
what's around the other end.

Come on, Wheeler.

A few miles to the rear,

the main body reached the last
physical barrier to walawbum...

The tange ga river.

[Aircraft approaching]

Private Driscoll, take cover!

You think
that Japanese plane saw us?

Let's pray to god he didn't.

Sneaking 3,000 men
through this damn jungle's

going to drive me nuts.

Come on, let's go.

Private Driscoll.

Yes, sir?

What happened out there?

Don't you know that plane
could have spotted you?

I don't know what's
eatin' me, general.

Going through this jungle's
driving me nuts.

Get moving.

I got 3,000 nervous wrecks
on my hands, doc.

90 days and 90 nights

bellying behind Japanese lines,

afraid to talk,
afraid to breathe.

What do you expect?

Left guard, this is quarterback.

Come in, left guard.

Left guard to quarterback.
Come in, quarterback.

Do you think that plane
spotted any of your men?

No, sir. We have good cover
here from the air.

Well, what's your situation?

Scouts report 300 enemy
in village of tange ga.

Tell your patrols
to steer clear of them

and stay out of sight.

Yes, sir.

Right guard,
this is quarterback.

Come in, right guard.

Right guard to quarterback.
Come in, quarterback.

Left guard is
crossing the river now.

When you reach it, move.

That plane's
liable to come back.

What's your picture?

Patrols report small enemy force

moving west along river bank.

Don't touch them. Hold where
you are until they pass.

Yes, sir.

Advise point that
we're moving out again.

Another bend in the road.

Wonder what's around this one.

Stock from quarterback.
Stock from quarterback.

Come in, stock.

[Yells in Japanese]

Quarterback to stock,

knock out that gun.

Quarterback to stock,
knock out that gun.

See that officer?

Yeah.

He's all yours.

Bullseye gets that officer,

you move in with smoke and frag.

Right.

Bullseye.

Stay away from my ammo.

Doskis.

Yeah?

Any of those Japanese get away?

No, sir.

Muley.

Yes, sir?

Where have you been?

Watching out for Eleanor.

She could have got hurt.

O'brien make it all right?

No, not with that leg.

Stock, you wouldn't
leave me here?

You know we don't
leave anybody, o'brien.

I'll radio the column
and have them pick you up.

Muley.

Yeah, stock.

Stick with him.

Yes, sir.

All right, let's go.

I got some extra smokes
stashed away in Eleanor's pack.

I'll dig them up.

We knocked out two guns, sir.

What took you so long?

I want news.

Have taggy tap into that line
leading to those guns.

That line's been hit.

Well, find another one.

Yes, sir.

All right.

Barney...

Have my battalion commanders
come up here right away.

H ey, tag gy.

Yeah?

Do you know enough Japanese

to run interference for me
in a geisha house?

What geisha house?

In Tokyo when we get there.

I'll teach you what
I picked up on bataan.

From there on,
you're on your own.

Hey, there's a wire.

I better start climbing

and pick up some gossip
for the general.

Hey, bullseye,
what's eating you?

Aw, come on.
Something's eating you.

What's eating you?

Chowhound, I'll tell you
about one last time.

You stay away from my chow.

You hear me?

- Sir.
- General.

Well, now they know we're here.

In a way, it's a relief.

I can let my breath out.

I'd suggest you hold it
until we take walawbum.

You think we ought
to notify the British

we're not such
a hot secret anymore?

It might change their plans
to link up with us there.

I'd hate to be in the middle
of Burma all by ourselves.

Whether the British
get there or not,

we've got to knock out walawbum.

That's the job
we volunteered for.

Now, Chuck, your responsibility

is going to be
the underground ammo dump.

Sammy, your responsibility
is the communications center.

Sir, lieutenant stockton.

Go ahead, stock.

Taggy intercepted
one of their messages, sir.

Here's his translation.

"Americans in our rear.

"Where? How many?

"What's their strength?

Identify their units."

Meet me at .33.

Right.

Gentlemen, there's
a Japanese battalion

on its way to walawbum.

We've got to beat them there.

20-mile march.

You have your men
drop their packs.

Yes, sir.

Hello, stock.

Hello, general.

How's the voice
on the radio holding out?

It's getting
a little hoarse, sir.

You've lost a little weight,
haven't you?

Looking a little skinny
yourself, sir.

Well, I'm fatter than
the last time we were here.

Well, it's a lot better
than when they ran us out

of this rattrap two years ago,
but it's still rough.

How do you like
running your own platoon?

You didn't tell me
when you gave me command

I'd be getting gray hairs also.

Hello, stock.

Hello, doctor.

Did you pick up
private o'brien, sir?

Mm-hmm.

Is he going to lose his leg?

Not if we can
fly him back to India.

Hello, boys.

We'll fly him back
as soon as we take walawbum.

You know, if...

If someone could get
in behind them at walawbum

and create a diversion,

that would help an awful lot.

Why don't I get going?

Yeah, why don't you?

Doctor, does the general
look okay to you, sir?

Nobody looks okay to me.

Keep an eye on him,
will you, sir?

That's an unusual relationship

between a general
and a second lieutenant.

Started a long time ago
when merrill was a major

and stock was a sergeant.

Someday that boy's
going to be a general

if he can lick one problem.

Stock.

Stock.

What?

Yeah?

You know, when merrill
put those bars on you,

he made you the big wheel
in this platoon.

So?

So don't be sticking
your neck out for us

by taking the point.

Let one of those
other knotheads do it.

You're right.

Bullseye.

Take the point.

Lucky boy.

Shut up.

Chowhound, keep him company.

Stock...

This way, buddy.

You want me to stay behind,

squeeze that joker off
while you start the fireworks?

Unh-unh. I got your work
cut out at the ammo dump.

Kolowicz...

Put a man here
to take care of that o.P.

When we blow up the rear.

Taggy...

Grenade that ammo truck.

Bullseye, you get that o.P.

We attack in 33 seconds.

Right guard, sir.

Have you lost your watch?

No, sir.

Why haven't you told me
you're ready?

You are ready, aren't you?

Just about, sir.

Just about isn't good enough.
Get cracking.

Yes, sir.

Left guard, sir.

All set?

Getting into position, sir.

What's holding you up?

If we don't
kick this off on time,

we've lost
the element of surprise.

O Kay.

Here, use mine.

Stock's blown the ammo dump.

Okay, you're on your own.

We're moving in, frank.

Now hit 'em hard.

[ Footsteps 1

put your weapon away, stock.

You won't find
any Japanese around here.

We've licked them, sir.

[Gunshots]

You sure?

Well, you'd better
get out of here, sir.

Nervous, stock?

Me?

Hell, no. Let's go.

You know...

I like that boy.

He's relaxing.

Hey, what's the matter with you?

You stay away from my girl.

I recommend this guy
for a section 8.

Kolowicz,
when are we going home?

I don't know.

The general ain't checked
with me yet.

Level with us.
When are we going?

When we get replaced
by the British.

What's holding them up?

The enemy, you meathead.

Hey, kolowicz.

Yeah?

When are we going home?

Oh, is that all you guys
ever think about?

I've been thinking about it
ever since guadalcanal.

Sarge, will you make him
stop eating that slop?

Turning my stomach.

Rice with chocolate bars
chopped in...

What's wrong with that?

Ugh.

Hey, Eleanor, want some chow?

[Brays]

Taggy.

Hmm?

How many times
do I have to tell you?

Tuck in the shirt.

Why does my shirt
always bother you, sarge?

You look sloppy.

Nobody said I was sloppy
on bataan.

You ain't on bataan.

Nobody said I was sloppy

when I escaped the Philippines.

You ain't in the Philippines.

Nobody said I was sloppy in
that open boat to Australia.

You ain't in an open boat.

Nobody minded
how sloppy I looked

when I enlisted
in the American army.

I'm a Filipino.

I will wear my shirt out
until all tyrants are dead.

Death to the tyrants!

All right.

[Shouts in tagalog]

You got o'brien's?

Yeah.

Addresses?

Right here.

This letter's to his father.

I was with him once on furlough.

They were pretty close.

I can't write letters.

This one took me two hours.

The general...
He's a great letter writer.

Wrote one for me once

that time I was wounded.

He didn't have
a home address for me,

so he asked me for it.

I didn't have one.

I wasn't about to tell him that,

so I made up one.

He gave me the letter to read.

It was all about me
and stuff like that.

I couldn't let a letter
like that just go anyplace,

so I told him the truth.

I told him I didn't have anybody
for him to write to.

You can't guess
what he did, kolly.

He mailed that letter home
to his wife

along with a picture of me.

You know what he said?

He said, "sergeant...

"Any time anybody wants
to write home about you,

you give them my address."

How can I write these letters?

Stock, sergeant.

General.

Any sign of anything
coming around that bend?

No, sir.

Alert your men that
general stilwell's expected.

If he shows up, let me know.

Yes, sir.

How many?

Eight.

When are those ambulance
planes getting here

to pick up our wounded?

Plane was shot down
by zeros from myitkyina.

Stock, what did he say?

When are we going home?

You mean lieutenant.

From now on around here,
he's the lieutenant.

You remember that.
Now get back to your gun.

Oh, boy.

Whew.

Why are you pulling rank
for me, kolowicz?

You know I don't mind
being called stock.

I like being close to my men.

You're too close to them.

Well, what's wrong with that?

You've got to be able
to write those letters.

When are we going home?

We're never going home.

Merrill got kicked
out of Burma, didn't he?

I got it from a guy
in the 1st battalion.

The general won't be happy

till every Japanese
is bounced out of Burma.

Come off it.

Merrill wants to get out
of this place as bad as we do.

Doskis: Somebody's coming.

Now, Eleanor, just keep calm.

You ain't got to worry

'cause muley's going
to take care of you.

Ha ha!

Here they come, boys.
The British are here!

We've been relieved!

See?

Just like I told you
the other day,

the British are here. Come on.

The British are here!

Muley, taggy, come look at this!

I told you, doskis.

Boy, are we glad
to see you guys.

Hey, what's your outfit?

The queen's own
royal west Kent regiment.

Hey, that's a fancy name.

How about that?

What is your outfit?

The 5307th composite unit.

Provisional.

Oh, quartermaster corps.

Quartermaster?

Do we look
like supply clerks to you?

We're the United States
infantry.

Death to the redcoats.

Bullseye:
Where are you guys headed?

Myitkyina.

Myitkyina?

Those poor guys.

500-mile hike from here.

Yeah, and the 18th Japanese
imperial division is there.

Man, am I glad

I'm not in that British army.

Amen.

Man: General stilwell,
gentlemen.

Hal, bannister.

How are you, frank?

Fine, sir.

Well, you'd say that anyway.

I'll come
right to the point, frank.

You've got to take myitkyina.

I thought
that was a British mission.

It still is,

but myitkyina's going
to need all of us.

Well, my men have earned
a breather, general.

After myitkyina.

Sir, we've taken a beating.

My people have got
malaria, dengue, dysentery,

psychological fatigue.

Being behind enemy lines
for three months

has sapped them.

You've got to beat
the monsoon, frank.

That means moving right away.

We're not
the only outfit in Burma.

You're the only
American infantry

between new Guinea and Italy.

The British have been
fighting here for three years.

We've got to pull our weight.

I suggest you grab
their railhead first

at this spot here... shaduzup.

That'll knock out
their transportation.

Then cross the mountains
to myitkyina.

Sir, what the general
is describing

is a 6-month campaign

over the worst terrain
in the world.

My men have just come 125 miles

through all sorts of hell.

To ask them to go another 500

and then fight a pitched battle

when they get there
is not only unfair,

it's... it's impossible.

And it's your job
to do the impossible.

Not without replacements.

Replacements...

Every theater commander's
crying for replacements.

Eisenhower has got
first priority in Europe.

Then come MacArthur and nimitz.

I'm low man on the totem pole.

Frank, you're all I've got.

May I remind the general,

every one of my men
is a 2-year combat veteran.

They gave up earned furloughs

so they could volunteer
for one mission... walawbum.

They had one job to do,
and they did it.

Their job is to keep
the Japanese out of India,

keep them from linking up
with the Germans.

That's my big nightmare,
frank...

One million Japanese
joining forces

with the German army.

Myitkyina is the linchpin
to Burma,

and Burma's the road to India.

It's going to be tough, frank,

but it's got to be done.

Oh, uh, by the way,
the newspaper boys

have made up a name
for your men.

They're called the marauders.

[Gunshot]

[Cheering]

Come on, Eleanor.

Come on, Eleanor! Come on.

Come on, Eleanor!

Come on, Eleanor!

Lieutenant, lieutenant,

general merrill
wants to see you, sir.

You're going
to get the word now, St...

Uh, lieutenant.

Hey, maybe they'll give us
a private plane.

Who cares what kind of plane,
as long as it's Bombay.

Maybe they'll give us
a big parade

up Dewey boulevard
in Manila, hey?

San Francisco, here I come.

You sent for me, sir?

Stock, what shape
are your men in?

They're rich. Our mule
just won the race.

And you?

- I didn't bet.
- You know what I mean.

Well, I have to admit,
I'm looking forward

to getting back to Bombay.

Those eight men you lost...
Hit you hard, didn't it?

They were my friends.

Think you can face
losing more of your friends?

We're not going
back to Bombay, are we?

Nope. We're going to shaduzup.

There's a railhead there.

It has to be taken and held.

They're going
to be looking for us,

so we're going to go there

the hard way...
Through the swamps.

Yes, sir.

Your men have been out at point

for a long stretch now.

They've got a break coming.

If you want, I'll put
another platoon out front.

You're leaving me that choice?

That's right.

Well, that's
a tough decision to make.

Can I think it over?

We're moving right out.

Why don't I get going?

Yeah, why don't you?

Frank, don't you think

you might have told him
about myitkyina?

Tough enough for him
to tell them

what he's telling them now.

All right, take 10.

Well, how's it going, Chris?

Beats milking cows
back in Kansas.

Better radio the column,

tell them we're taking a break.

Stock to quarterback.
We're taking 10.

O Kay.

Battalion reports are no good.

They're out of food and water.

Sick list is growing.

They need more rest.

Yeah, who doesn't?

We're behind our timetable now

on account of all this muck.

I don't know
how they're doing it...

Typhus, malaria.

We're hurting.

We're hurting, frank.

[Sighs]

You better get
the column started, Barney.

All right, frank.

What's the matter with you?

You look funny to me, general.

Funny...

You're not going
to pin one of those...

Those little tags on me.

Pin it on your back
when you're not looking.

All I had was a dizzy spell,

maybe a touch of fever.

Nothing to it.

Open your shirt.

Will you stop apple-polishing?

You already took
my blood pressure.

Open your shirt.

You're wasting my time.

Would you like me to cough?

How long have you been
getting away with this?

Away with what?

You don't have to lie.
I'm your doctor.

The last physical,
I was top-notch.

I don't believe you.

A captain always believes
a general.

How long have you been
having chest pains?

When was the last time

you had a pain in your left arm?

Did you go in a pool of sweat?

I'm in one now, damn it.

My men are liable to die
in this swamp

without firing a shot.

O Kay, o Kay.

I-I had one about a...

About a year...
Three years ago, uh,

in... in Tokyo
as military attache.

I was treated
at a private hospital.

What was the diagnosis?

I'll tell you what it was...

Heart...

Coronary thrombosis.

And you're on your way
to another one.

Doc, you keep this
under your hat.

Captain kolodny, I'd like you
to regard that as a...

As an order.

Hey, stock, ain't this
column got any food?

What do you bet they're
holding out on us?

Stock: Nobody's holding
out on you, chowhound.

We're all in the same boat.

Yeah, we could use one
around here.

I didn't know
we have enough blood left

for these damn leeches.

Medic, get doskis.

Hey, stock, on the level,

when we getting out of here?

Like I told you,

when we hit the railroad tracks.

Railroad tracks?
Huh, is he kidding?

There ain't nothing
at the end of this swamp

except maybe more swamp.

Relax, bullseye.

Take advantage of the break.

How'd you even get
into this outfit, muley?

They drafted Eleanor.

Where she goes, I go.

Yeah, you're two of a kind.

Taggy: Boy, if my mother
could see me now.

There was a time...

What time is it?

7:15.

A.M. or P.M.?

A.M., you knothead.

Taggy, it's P.M.
it's getting dark.

You're out of your head.

It was night already.

Now, I'm watching
very carefully.

It's P.M.

Okay, wise guy,
if you're so smart,

what day is it?

It's... it's Tuesday.

Everybody knows it's Sunday.

It's Tuesday!

It's Sunday.

You been hearing
church bells or something?

You got battle fatigue.
It's Wednesday.

How do you know?

It's my birthday.

Let's bake a cake.

I got a better idea.

Let's have some steaks.

You better knock that idea

right out of your mouth,
chowhound.

People eat horses, don't they?

Nobody eats mule meat
until I tell you to.

Now get some shut-eye
for a few minutes,

all of you.

Whoa, baby.
Now just settle down.

That's it.

When I close my eyes,
I see a mule's behind.

Also when I open them.

What's wrong with doskis?

Typhus.

Typhus.

Are you sure?

He's got the rash,

and I found a bug bite
on his leg.

He's running 105.

Does he know it?

He thinks it's malaria.

Tag him that.

Yes, sir.

All right, knock it off!

Knock it off! Knock it off!

Come on!

You guys want to fight,

wait till we find more Japanese.

I caught chowhound
going through my pack.

This mule Skinner's
hoarding the food!

What did you do
with the "k" rations

you put in that pack?

I gave them to you last week,

you crazy tapeworm!

Let's go.

Lieutenant stockton.

What's holding you up?

One of my men's down.

Who is it?

Corporal doskis.

What's the matter with him?

Typhus.

What did you tag him?

Malaria.

Got many cases?

Got too many.

Railroad tracks shouldn't
be too far away now.

Aah!

I wonder if he made
contact with anybody.

[Gunshots]

Stock: Over here, general.

I found the railroad tracks.

Barney, send for a food drop.

See, just like
I told you, Eleanor.

Uncle muley said he'd
get you out of this swamp.

[Brays]

Atta girl.

Reached rear base loud and clear

on the radio, sir.

That food is on the way.

All right, everybody
back in the swamp,

and keep moving.

Aren't we going to wait
for the air drop, sir?

These men are starving.

I'd rather have them
hungry than dead.

Parachutes will bring
the enemy to this spot.

We're not going to be here.

What do we do for food?

Fight for it.

At the end of those
tracks is our objective.

We'll eat Japanese food.

I want everybody in the swamp!

Get moving!

All of you, in the swamp!

Get moving!

[Aircraft approaching]

[Gunshot]

Stock! Let me have that hot one!

[Girl yelling
in foreign language]

I'm not going to hurt you.

Come on, let's get you
over here.

There.

Let's have a look
at this, young lady.

Here.

Hey. Look. Hey.

Watch me.

See?

See? Won't hurt you.

Here.

That ought to hold it.

Get you over to the doc

and see if we can't
get that piece of shrapnel

out of there.

Medic.

Take care of her, will you?

She's got some steel
in her thigh.

I gave her some sulfa.

Sure, stock.

Hey.

Hey, he's not going to hurt you.

There.

Hey, it's going to be all right.

Go on, now.

He's going to take care
of your leg.

There.

[ Rooster crows]

[ Rooster crows]

Here you are, Eleanor.

Get some genuine shaduzup h20.

[Kissing noises]

[Braying]

[Laughing]

Hey, bullseye.

Huh?

Girls.

Yeah.

Well, the landing strip's ready.

The wounded are all set
for evacuation.

Hey, you're out of pipe tobacco?

I guess I lost my pouch

in the swamp somewhere.

Man: Signal from headquarters,

northern combat command.

General stilwell
is messaging you, sir.

Ben, give him a hand
decoding, will you?

Ben: Yes, sir.

You have a match?

He sure doesn't waste
much time, does he?

Hello, doc.

What's the score?

You want details?

No, no, just the bottom line.

The 5307th has collapsed.

From a medical viewpoint,

they're finished
as a fighting unit.

Could I have that fire again?

I don't seem to be able
to get this pipe going.

I have never seen human beings

in such condition...

Drained...

Physically
and psychologically drained.

I'm not tagging them
for specific ailments.

I'm simply marking every man

in the outfit "aoe"...

Accumulation of everything.

They're through.

I have general stilwell's
message, sir.

Read it.

"Three Japanese divisions
invading India.

Imperative we take myitkyina.
Can you do it?"

Frank, he's asking
if we can do it.

That lets us out.

Sergeant?

Of course. He's not
ordering us to go.

He's leaving it up to you.

Yeah.

Yeah, he's leaving it
up to me, all right.

All right, doc,

let's have a look

at this washed-up outfit of ours

before I make up my mind
whether or not

we can go on to myitkyina.

Can I ask you
a question, general?

What are you looking for?

Something that's not
in your medical book, doc.

Can I get out of line?

Forget about the army.

This is between
doctor and patient.

The answer's still no.

Then I'm going to talk
as a friend.

If you're thinking
about sending these men

to myitkyina, don't do it.

You'll never be able
to live with yourself.

How do you know

what I'm able to live with?

I wouldn't want it
on my conscience.

Nobody wants you
to have anything

on your conscience.

You're being paid
to make diagnoses,

and I'm paid to make decisions.

I hope your decision
is as accurate

as my diagnoses.

I'm checking your
diagnoses right now.

Who's going
to check your decision?

You're kidding
yourself, general.

You've got no decision to make.

These men are at the end
of their rope. So are you.

When you're at the end
of your rope,

all you have to do
is make one foot

move in front of the other.

Take the next step.

That's all there is to it.

Who are you?

Merrill. Who are you?

Did lemcheck make it?

Did lemcheck make it?

I saw him get hit!

Poor lemcheck.

Poor lemcheck.

He's dead.

Did lemcheck make it?

He's lemcheck.

Chris, headquarters needs
another radio man.

Taggy, you go along with him.

They've got some captured
Japanese documents

that need translating.

Kolowicz, put four men
on security.

Bullseye, pick up
eight cases of ammo

for the pla toon.

Ammo?

What's merrill volunteering
us for this time?

We're low. Get the ammo.

I don't need any ammo!
I'm not fighting anybody.

Pick up the ammo, bullseye.

Tell merrill
to pick it up himself!

What'd you say?

I said, tell merril to
pick it up himself!

I've taken my last order
from that butcher!

I'm sorry, stock.

I didn't mean it.

I didn't, either.

I'll get the ammo.

I'll give him
a hand, lieutenant.

They're coming apart.

Yeah.

Yeah, we all are.

Well, I hope merrill
don't take us

any further than this...

What's left of us.

And... it's... been...

The most...

Difficult decision

of my... life.

I pray...

I've chosen... correctly.

Kiss the children for me.

My love...

To you, as always...

Frank.

Well, stock?

Man: Message to general stilwell

tra nsmitted, sir.

Thank you.

General...

I've never asked
a favor of you before,

but I've got to ask one now.

I'd like your permission

to tell my men
when they're going home.

Stock, I've just radioed
general stilwell

that I've decided
to go on to myitkyina.

To myitkyina?

Yeah.

I told him that, in my opinion,

we can take the base.

Sir, my men can't make it.

Yes, they can.

You don't know my men.

I know them better than you do.

General, it's not that
they don't want to fight.

They can't.

They just can't
physically fight anymore!

If they've got a single
ounce of strength

left in them, they can fight.

Men don't mean anything
to you, do they?

They're just two legs
to walk with,

shoulders to carry a pack,

a pair of hands
to shoot a rifle.

That's all.

When I pinned those bars on you,

I made a leader out of you.

When you lead,

you have to hurt people...

The enemy,
and sometimes your own.

I don't want any more
of my men butchered,

and I request to be relieved

of the command of my platoon.

Request denied.
I need you too much.

O'steen.

Pick that up.

Pick up your ammo belt
and put it on.

Here you go.

Hold on to that ammo.

You're no good to me dead.

Go on, o'steen.

Yes, sir.

What's holding it up?

Come on, let's move out!

Come on now, Eleanor.

Come on, baby.

Now come on, Eleanor!

You volunteered for this, too!

Okay, ready to shove her over.

No!

You can't do that, sarge!

She'll be all right
after a little rest.

Her load's too heavy.

Muley, she's holding up
the whole column.

Wait! I'll carry her load!

Boys, give me a hand
with this pack!

Aah!

Come on, Eleanor.

We can climb
this little old hill.

Just like old uncle muley
told you.

We made it, Eleanor!

Come on, muley.

That's okay. Come on.

Over yonder is myitkyina.

You don't agree
with what I'm doing,

do you, Barney?

Well, the textbooks would say

that dividing our forces
at this point

invites piecemeal destruction.

Yeah, I...

I wouldn't teach students
this sort of thing,

but if we can make
the Japanese think

there are twice as many
of us as there are...

Well, what would you do
if it were your decision?

I'd go through the same hell

that you did making yours.

How long do you figure

before you can hit the base?

In our condition,

24 hours.

The 18th Japanese division

will be waiting there for us.

Do you feel anything?

Rain.

Yeah.

Yeah, only... only a few drops,

but it could be the beginning.

We've got to beat that monsoon.

When this is all over,

you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to get married.

I'm going to have
about six kids.

I'll tell them
what it was like in Burma.

If they don't cry,

I'll beat the hell out of them.

I'll see you in myitkyina.

So long, frank.

Request general's permission
to Bury my man here.

[Speaking Japanese]

In there!

Get on that radio!

Find out if bannister's
been hit!

Wonder what they're up to next.

There's only one way
to find out.

Pass the word.
Taggy's going out.

[Gunshot]

Man: Enemy infiltration
increasing

along the 1st battalion
right flank, sir.

Who's holding that position?

Stock's platoon, sir.

Hey, sarge?

Kolowicz, where are you?

Sarge?

Hey, sarge!

Aah!

Now, you keep your mouth shut.

[ Footsteps 1

don't shoot. It's taggy.

I'm coming in.

Did you learn anything?

Banzai when it gets light.

You hurt?

A little.

Infiltration's stopped, sir.

Stock's okay, sir.

I just talked to his radio man.

You got good cover in here,
Eleanor.

Taggy got some dope.

There's a banzai at dawn.

Terry, pass the word
along the line.

Stock.

Yes, sir?

That's all.

Stay awake, soldier.

Banzai at dawn.

Banzai at dawn, kolly.

Banzai at dawn.

Banzai at dawn.

Banzai at dawn. Banzai at dawn.

Here.

It's your last one, sir.

Go on, take it.

Doc says smoking's bad for me.

Come in, left guard.
Come in, left guard.

We're pinned down
by heavy machine-gun fire.

Send medics. Send medics.

Victor to Tom. Have fallen back.

I'm reorganizing and digging in.

Lou hit by enemy sniper.
Suggest you get down at once.

All units! All units!

Enemy making heavy rush
through center.

Breakthrough! Breakthrough!

Left guard to quarterback,
Japanese falling back.

Right guard to quarterback,
enemy pulling out.

We beat them off.
They're running.

But why?

Quarterback to bannister.
Come in, bannister.

This is bannister.
Come in, quarterback.

What is your situation?

We've reached the airstrip.
We 're attacking.

Resistance is heavy.

It's going to get heavier.

That's the reason the Japanese
are pulling out...

Heading back to myitkyina
to defend the airstrip.

We better get a move on.

Notify battalion to assemble
all able-bodied men.

We're moving on myitkyina.

Man: Yes, sir.

I want every man who can walk,

every man who can carry a rifle.

You cannot order
these men to fight.

Every man who can carry a rifle!

Bannister needs one more push.

With these men,
we can take myitkyina.

You cannot order them to fight.

They'll never make it.
You'll never make it.

Doc, just give me something

to keep me on my feet 24 hours.

That's all I ask, 24 hours!

You're asking
for a miracle, general.

I don't have any up my sleeve.

A miracle isn't called for!

Just another step.
Just one more step.

All right, everybody,
on your feet.

As long as you can breathe,
you can fight.

Come on, boy,
pick up that rifle.

Come on, son, follow me.
You can make it.

All you have to do
is take that next step.

Just put one foot
in front of the other.

Come on, let's go.

You heard the general.

On your feet.

Kolowicz, move out.

Chris, let's go.

Move out.

Let's go.

What sort of men are these?

How do they do it?

How can they do it?

But they did it.

They did the impossible.

They took myitkyina.

On that day of victory,

of the 3,000 volunteers
who marched into Burma,

only 100 remained in action.

On that same day,

merrill's Mara uders
were demobilized

and thus ceased to exist
officially.

But by order of the president
of the United States,

a special unit citation
was awarded these men

so that history
would never forget them.

Today their traditions
are being carried on

by the U.S. army special forces

and other proud units
of the United States army.

We salute them all.