Original subtitles

Take cover!

Joe.

Mom. Mom, what's going on?

Joe's dead.

The Union gunboats USS Westfield and the USS Arkansas fired on Vicksburg from

the Mississippi River. Some of the unexploded ordnance are still on the

the mansions that line the bluffs. Isn't that dangerous?

Well, that's a good question.

Because a few years ago, one of the unexploded munitions exploded while a

was out at church.

They say that that was the last shot fired in the Civil War.

How do you know all this?

I picked U .S. Naval History first year of the Academy.

Gotta go.

Yeah, I love you, too.

Hey, Sam. What's up?

I was talking to my dad. I thought you didn't talk to him anymore.

No, my Navy dad, my guardian.

And he's talking about the... Hey, Susan. Susan, when did you get the news?

can you tell us about your brother, Susan? How do you feel about it, Susan?

How's the family taking it? Just give us a minute. It's all we want. Did your

brother support the war? Hey, Susan.

What do you think about the war? What was that all about?

How did the assistant officer come into the house last night?

My, my brother. The one that I rat?

Yeah.

He got killed.

Susan, I'm so sorry.

Shouldn't you be at home or something?

I guess.

I just thought, you know, it's cool to be just staying home and, you know,

thinking about it.

We have a test to take.

I didn't study.

We have 20 minutes before class.

I can tell you all you need to know about the CJ6 brick.

Smithfield, USMC.

Number 239495995.

Confirmed.

Preliminary cause of death, massive trauma to the head and torso.

Place the deceased in the body bag.

What happens to a mound, ma 'am?

The remains will be transferred to the mortuary in Baghdad.

They'll be put on the first flight of opportunity.

I want to escort them home, ma 'am.

Corporal, there's no way I'm going to allow you to travel in your condition.

Captain, an hour ago you told me I was doing fine.

Considering you just got shot.

There's risk of infection.

You're going to have to wait for the next medical airlift back to the States.

PFC Smithfield is not going home alone, ma 'am.

Someone will accompany the body.

Someone he doesn't know?

Joe needs to know that I'm there.

I've got a medic rotating back to the States.

I'll contact your unit and have the orders cut.

He can accompany you and the remains of PFC Smithfield.

Thank you, ma 'am.

Thank you for joining us, Lieutenant.

Sorry I'm late, sir. Traffic.

Factor gridlock in your drive time. Leave 20 minutes earlier.

Aye, sir.

I want you both to look into this.

Anderson Flakjacket, there's been several reported failures in the

Headquarters Marine Corps has authorized a Jagman investigation to find out if

there's a problem with the design or manufacture of the vest.

And if there is, sir? I want charges filed against those responsible.

What if they're civilians, sir?

Interface with the civilian authorities. Just get it done.

The Anderson vest has passed all fragment -simulating projectile test

requirements. Lieutenant, research conducted by the Marine Corps and by

independent testing companies.

The vest is state -of -the -art.

Well, there have been several failures reported in the field, Mr. Anderson.

We make vests, Lieutenant.

We're not miracle workers.

An RPG hits a man.

Nothing will save his life. Nothing.

That's a little cold, Mr. Anderson.

I regret the fact that there are casualties, Lieutenant.

We have reached a time when people think that we can fight a war without

casualties. So that if someone dies, we think, did something malfunction?

Is there someone to blame?

We fight wars, and men and women die.

That's the cost of doing business on the battlefield.

What's wrong?

Uh, Susan's in trouble.

Boy? No, nothing like that.

But, um, she just found out that her brother was killed in Iraq.

Oh, God, I'm sorry.

You know, Maddie, the Marine Corps have bereavement counselors to help a family

out at times like this.

It's not that.

The reporters at the school, they chased her into the building and asked her

questions like, How do you feel and what do you think of the war? And she said

the reporters staking out her house and calling her mom all day and all night.

I was hoping that maybe you could do something about it.

Like what?

I don't know, scare the reporters away.

You're good at that.

Scaring people, well, persuading people to do the right thing.

I mean, you convinced me to live with you after I knew you for, what, two

months?

I think it's the right thing to do.

It is.

It is.

The call started the night the casualty assistance officer came to the house.

A reporter named Sean Parker called at 3 o 'clock in the morning.

He said he wanted to send a news crew by for a live interview for the 7 a .m.

news.

I told him that I would give him a statement, but that I needed a few hours

compose myself.

He wanted to catch me off guard, Commander.

He wanted tears.

Well, my grief is my own.

My Uncle Matt.

Korea? That photo was taken at Chosin Reservoir two days before he was

I had a great -grandfather that fought at the Battle of Belleau Wood.

The grandfather at Iwo Jima.

Uncle Matt at Chosin Reservoir in the Second Battle of Kaesong.

My husband in the first Gulf War.

If you don't mind me asking, Mrs. Smithfield. He was an intelligence

he died of cancer three years ago.

I'm sorry.

Well, I have him close by. He's buried at Arlington.

Is your uncle able to be with you?

Flying in tomorrow.

So you're handling this alone?

I have Susan.

Mrs. Smithfield, if there's anything that I can do to be of service, I'd be

than happy to help.

I want you to help me find a way to talk to these reporters, Commander.

I want them to know Joe for the man he was, and not the headline that they want

him to be.

I try to talk about Joe, and they just, uh... They just want to know if I think

the war's wrong now that I've lost my son.

And I try to tell them how proud he was to serve his country. And they just want

to know if I think the president was lying about the reasons we went into

What can I do?

I think it's important that my voice be heard.

And I need you to help me tell my story on my terms.

I don't want to look like I'm running away or that I'm ashamed of something.

I want to have my say.

I'll do what I can, but I can't promise a miracle.

I no longer believe in Miracle the Commander.

Our intel was bad, Captain.

What was the source of the intel?

A local, sir. Tariq Farad. We'd used them before with good results.

Where is he now?

Unknown, sir.

He disappeared a few hours before the firefight.

Sir, I accept full responsibility for Private First Class Smithfield's death.

Did you start this war, Sergeant?

No, sir.

You follow the direct orders as they were given? Yes, sir. Then you're not

responsible.

You and your squad will be going back to Tipka to find those who were

responsible for P .S .P. Smithfield's death.

You can bring them to justice.

If they resist, sir?

The use of deadly force is authorized.

Aye, sir.

You chased her down like she was a wanted felon. It was a public place.

Susan Smithfield is a child. You were at her high school.

Her brother had just died.

The boy who was killed is 4th Generation Marine Corps.

16 members in all served in six wars. Four killed in action.

I mean, the Smithfield family's news.

You had a crew outside of her house at 4 a .m. Ever hear of a deadline?

What's your connection with the... Mrs.

Smithfield is prepared to give you a statement on camera.

Questions to follow?

Not at this time. Look inside the house.

A few home videos. Chat with the grieving daughter.

No. Okay, I'm not interested.

I thought you said the Smithfield family was news.

Look, if you can't sentiment, it doesn't mean diddly -squat, man. My son Joe was

the most wonderful boy in the world. Everyone loved him. He's proud to give

life for his country. That's just not news.

What is?

The human cost of political calculation. That's news.

Right there.

We solicitly tested the Anderson vest on six occasions. It surpassed spec threat

requirements every time with flying colors.

We had this vest confiscated from Iraq for a post -mortem investigation.

C .S .C. Smithfield was killed in Iraq two nights ago.

He was caught within 10 feet of an RPG explosion.

As you can see, his vest did not provide adequate protection.

What accounts for the failure, sir?

That's what we're going to find out. Working hypothesis?

That the vest we tested and this vest were built to a different standard.

Cause? Individual malfunction, cost -cutting, chance.

It's hard to tell.

Colonel, I want to be there when you conduct that test.

You got it, Lieutenant.

You talk to Miss Smithfield?

Yeah, she's a strong woman.

Lost her husband and her son.

Bet she'd glad to have you around.

How did you learn, Manning, about your mom's death?

I got a call in the middle of the night.

Last time I heard from my dad for about six months.

And after that, people kept telling me how bad they felt, how sad they were.

I didn't care how sorry they were. I just missed my mom.

And I had no one to talk to.

It's been 18 months.

You want to talk about it now?

What's the point she's got?

You're going to have to talk about it eventually.

Because if you don't come to grips with your mom's death, you're not going to be

able to go on with your own life.

I never dealt with my father's death.

You know, for years I kept telling myself that he was still alive.

Even when I found out that he was dead.

I never dealt with it.

And it hurt me.

Big.

How?

Never let anybody close.

Well, you let me in.

Of course I did.

What am I thinking?

What am I, a science project?

No. What happens when you get bored with me?

You've been talking to Mac? What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing.

What is it with you and Mac? I mean, Jen says you love her, but I... You've been

talking to Petty Officer Colts about me?

A lot.

Well, I mean, there's a lot to talk about.

What do you expect? We're girls.

I don't want to deal with this right now.

Yeah, I know. You want to talk about me.

Remind me exactly why are you here.

Because you love me.

And hey, you can trust me not to tell Jen anything you wouldn't want to tell

about Mac.

I am real serious about keeping my word. You tell me it's a secret, and it stays

that way.

I thought I said I didn't want to talk about me.

Too late. We're there.

Look, Mac and my relationship is complicated.

Do you love her?

Yes.

How come you aren't dating her anymore? Is it because of me?

Are you afraid to bring a girl home?

No. Look, I'll keep it simple for you.

Mac and I have never been able to...

Close the divide.

I guess it goes back to what I said earlier.

Not having closure.

But we're working on it.

Anyway, Mrs.

Smithfield has asked me to be there when the Casualty Assistance Officer visits

her tonight.

And I was wondering, maybe you'd like to come along. You could hang with Susan.

I'm not good at that kind of stuff.

What kind of stuff?

Death and all.

Your son's body will arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware at 0830

tomorrow, ma 'am.

That's 0830 a .m.

Mr. Smithfield is aware of military time, Gunner.

Yes, sir. Sorry, ma 'am.

The body will be escorted by Lance Corporal Walker Evans.

He served with your son in Iraq.

He was wounded in the same firefight.

How's the Lance Corporal going to make the journey?

Lance Corporal insisted, sir.

There's a medic on board with him.

The aircraft.

will be met with full honors.

A sergeant major and an honor guard will accompany PFC Smithfield to the Charles

C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs.

The center will prepare the body for burial.

When will I see my son?

You may not want to, ma 'am. There's a recommendation not to view.

Thank you for your candor.

His personal effects will be returned to you at that time.

Since your son died in combat, he is eligible for burial in Arlington

Cemetery. Well, that would be my wish.

My husband is buried there. If there's any way the graves could be closed

together.

I'll see what we can do, ma 'am.

When will this happen, Gunnar?

Sergeant Major will inform me when he's completed his preparations, sir.

Then the body will go where Mrs. Smithfield directs with the appropriate

Ma 'am, no Marine goes home alone.

What do you say, Tariq?

Cubans?

What do you want?

Cuban cigars are 40 bucks a pop on the black market.

What's the price of an American life these days, Tariq?

500? 1000?

I did nothing wrong.

I just sent a man home packed a knife thanks to your bad intel, Tariq.

Give me one reason you should live.

Okay, okay, okay.

I'll give you a good intel this time, okay?

I can tell you exactly where to find the man you're looking for.

This time it will be the truth, I promise.

Tell me where to find him.

Lord, we gather to humbly ask your blessings over this fallen Marine.

Joseph Smithfield gave his life so that others may be free.

You have said, no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his

friends.

Because of his ultimate sacrifice, we ask that you surround and embrace him

your tender mercies.

Extend your hand of consolation over his friends and family who mourn him.

Amen.

Lance Corporal Evans. Yes, ma 'am.

I'm Joe's mother.

My condolences, ma 'am.

Thank you.

Commander Rapp.

Pleased to meet you, sir.

I brought letters from the men who served with your son.

Thank you.

You've come a long way with him.

Joe and I had a pact, ma 'am.

One of us was to get hurt or... The comfort knowing you never left this

How are you feeling?

Nothing I can't handle, ma 'am.

Were you with Joe the night he was killed?

Yes, ma 'am.

I want to know what happened.

I want to know how he died.

RPG, ma 'am.

Never saw it coming.

Did he suffer?

He was gone when we got to him.

What was your mission, Lance Corporal?

There'd been a suicide bombing the day before.

Out in front of a police station.

We got word that the people who planned the attack were holed up in a house in

Tifka.

It was bad intel, sir.

We walked right into a trap.

Was PFC Smithfield the only casualty? Yes, sir.

Other than me getting hit.

Did you complete your mission?

No, sir.

We never got the planners.

Or the ones who trapped the RPG.

There's still unfinished business back there, sir.

Would you take these for me, Lieutenant?

Yes, sir.

What do you have, sir?

My findings are only preliminary.

An educated guess.

Understood, Colonel.

The vest worn by TFC Smithfield and the vest from the dummy.

Both are of inferior quality and show probabilities of incapacitation here and

here.

The vests we tested 18 months ago defeated fragments at a much greater

velocity than an RPG and still passed spec threat requirements.

Well, can you explain that, sir?

When it was learned that many of the Army Reserve units deployed to Iraq

receive vests, the company that manufactures the Anderson vests went

gear.

Possible there was a degradation in quality materials or quality assurance.

How long will it take to perform the additional testing to determine that?

Several months.

We've completed our preliminary investigation, sir. It appears there may

anomalies in the production of the Anderson vest.

Anomalies? What the hell does that mean?

Well, deficiencies, sir, but we won't know for sure until additional

testing is complete.

In several months, sir.

We send our people to war, we want to give them the best equipment. Best

best aircraft, hell, the best damn boots.

Several months is several months too long to wait for an answer. Is that

Affirmative, Admiral. We'll convey your message to Aberdeen.

I see that you do.

Hey,

bud, you okay?

I'm fine, sir.

You sure?

I thought I'd put it behind me, sir.

What happened on the battlefield?

Where'd you get these?

There are four cases that I'm working on, sir. A PFC Smithfield was a recent

casualty. Yeah.

He was killed four days ago.

Firefight with the Fedayeen and Tifka.

How'd you know?

I'm helping out the family.

You should know that there's a question about the quality of his vest, sir.

Let me know if you hear anything, all right?

Yes, sir.

Seems like the death of PFC Smithfield touched a lot of people's lives, sir.

You know, I was at Bethesda Naval Hospital last week for my annual checkup

the leg.

The ward is filled with new arrivals.

First thing you see when you get off the elevator on the fifth floor is the wall

of heroes.

The PTs, they put up photos of the men that they're working with, you know, the

burn cases, the shrapnel victims.

A lot of amputees.

I spoke with a nurse who took care of me when I was there.

She says the average age of the men that they treat is 23 years old, sir.

That is just too damn young, and there's not a thing that we can do about it.

Time of departure is 0800 tomorrow.

A 46 will insert you at Wadi Al Harith.

You will wait there until 1900 and make your way into Tifka under cover of

darkness.

You got it, Sergeant.

Aye, sir.

The suspects are located in a house at the edge of the village.

Any questions?

How reliable is the intel, Sergeant?

I have reason to believe that it's excellent.

Your mission is to take these men alive.

Failing that, follow your ROE.

I received a communication from PFC Smithfield's mother this morning,

each of you for your letters of condolence that Lance Corporal Evans

with him.

Mrs. Smithfield sends her blessings and her fervent prayers for your safe return

to the United States.

I don't want to have to write another letter to another mother.

Mr. Parker!

Hey, I'm a little busy now, Commander.

Look, I promised Mrs.

Smithfield she'd have an opportunity to tell her story.

Is that right? What are you, my assignment editor?

I need you to help me with this, Sean.

What do I get?

You ever been up in an F -14?

No. It's one hell of a ride. Nothing like it in the world.

You can arrange a flight?

I'll take you up myself.

First we'll go supersonic, then at high altitude we'll pull a sustained G and a

high G turn.

Lastly, we'll go zero G. That's negative gravity. You can watch a nickel float

in a cockpit.

One hell of a photo op, Mr. Parker.

You call me when you're ready.

All right. You'll be hearing from me.

You'll be hearing from me about a time and a place for Mr. Smithfield's

interview.

Don't forget your barf bag.

All right, listen up. Who are you best to bring him out alive?

You guys ready?

Go! Go!

This outfit is not me. What are you talking about? You look great. Oh, easy

you to say. You were in the same outfit all year long.

Maddie, it's patently not true.

Blue's in the winter, white's in the summer, peanut butter's on duty.

Whatever that is.

Khaki. Why don't you just call it that?

And, of course, there is the dress mess uniform, which has a gold cummerbund and

camels, and then there's the flight suits and various other looks.

Pardon? Are you sure that I have to...

Go to this thing tonight?

Fine, Matilda.

But you call Mrs. Smithfield yourself, and you tell her why you're not coming,

and then you can call Susan and tell her that you're a chicken.

Harm, sometimes you forget that I'm not a part of your army.

Never say army. Through a Navy man, it provokes a bad result, okay?

It's important that you're there, Maddie, to show your love and support.

I know.

What am I going to say, Harm?

You don't have to say anything.

Your presence there is enough.

I know it sounds stupid, but...

I have a really hard time being around people who break down and cry and stuff.

This isn't a night for tears, Maddie. This is a night to celebrate a life.

Commander, Maddie. Please, come in.

Ms. Fields.

I'm so sorry about you.

Oh, thank you, Maddie. That means a lot.

Susan's upstairs.

Thanks.

I don't know what we would have done without you and Maddie.

She's been a good friend to Susan.

It's been such a relief for her to talk about everyday things, you know.

Boys, mostly.

Boys?

What boys?

Well, don't ask her, because she won't tell you.

Joe had girlfriends I never even met.

Forgive me. Would you like something to drink?

Sure.

Beer would be fine.

Maddie seems very grown up for her age.

Yeah, I'm not so sure that's a good thing.

She was forced to grow up a little too quickly, you know.

She kind of forgot what it's like to be a kid.

Well, whatever the problem, you're lucky to have her.

Well, I love having her in my life.

I just...

I don't always know what to do with her.

Well, none of us know, Commander. It's trial and error.

Up until the day that Joe left on that C -141 for Iraq, I was... I was still

trying to figure him out.

Well, if you ever want advice on how to deal with Maddie, you know where to find

me.

And in the meantime, treasure every minute.

Uncle Matt.

So glad you're here.

Hello, Rachel.

Evening, ma 'am.

Evening. Come on in. All right.

Thanks for picking me up, Gunner. Here if you need anything, sir.

Commander Harmon Rapp, I'd like you to meet my uncle, retired General Matthew

Smithfield.

Pleasure to meet you, Commander.

Pleasure's all mine, sir.

I'd like to thank you for all the support that you've provided for our

It was an honor, General.

Come on in.

You know, when you... When you're ready to talk, I'm here.

You haven't known me for that long, but you can trust me.

Why when you don't trust me?

What do you mean?

You never told me what happened to your mom.

Like it's too close or something because it happened to you.

When this is happening to me.

That's fair.

After the accident that killed my mom, I went through a time where I just tried

to pretend like it didn't happen.

Yeah, I know.

You have your father to hate for what happened to your mom.

Who am I supposed to hate for what happened to my brother?

Well, harm says when you don't deal with death and stuff, it makes it hard to

have a relationship.

After my mom died, I couldn't ever talk about it.

I just got angry with the whole world, and I behaved that way.

That's for harm.

I even get mad at him, too, sometimes.

And sometimes he gets this look like, what am I doing with this brat?

Now he's talking to my dad.

I'm afraid that if my dad gets any better, harm's going to send me home to

I pray every night that it doesn't happen.

I pray that God won't let cancer take my dad.

Then I pray that my brother would be safe in Iraq.

Joe got killed.

I can't pray.

Oh.

Commander Rapp. Good evening, sir.

Come on in.

Thank you two both for coming.

Mrs. Smithfield.

Ma 'am, these Marines served for Joe.

This is Private First Class Barksdale. She's stationed at Camp Pendleton with

the 1st FSSG.

Pleased to meet you, ma 'am.

My condolences.

This is Private First Class Cartwright. He's stationed in Yuma with the HMLA

361. Sorry for your loss, ma 'am.

Thank you both for coming.

Are you all hungry?

I was born hungry, ma 'am.

Well, there's beer and sandwiches in the kitchen.

Tell me something, Commander.

Was it worth it?

Sir?

His getting killed.

Well, I don't know, General. Was Chosin Reservoir worth it?

Frozen piece of worthless North Korean real estate.

You know I fought there. Yes, sir, I do. Over 1 ,600 Marines died at Chosin.

We drew the line in Korea, Lance Corporal.

This far and no further.

Fighting a new enemy now, sir. We're sending a new message.

Attack us and we'll come after you. You can't hide.

So is your nephew's death worth it, sir?

I'll say this, it won't be if we don't stay the course.

Can't let a handful of thugs run us out of Iraq.

Sir.

Donna?

I'm sorry, Mia.

For what?

Marines don't cry.

You're the only one who hasn't told me a story.

Having a hard time finding the words, ma 'am.

Were you in love with him?

Yes, ma 'am.

Thing was, we didn't have a lot of time together.

Night here and there.

A weekend once.

Joe took me to the Del Coronado Hotel.

I stayed there many years ago with Joe's father when he was stationed at

Pendleton.

And you know how special that night was?

Yeah. Joe got an ocean view room.

Cost him two weeks' pay.

Did you have plans together?

He was going to see me when he got back.

I don't know where it would have gone, but I'd like to think somewhere.

You must be proud of him.

I am.

You raised him good.

Why do you say that?

Because of the type of guy he was.

Funny.

And real kind.

I can see that in you, ma 'am.

I just keep thinking of what me and Joe might have had together.

All that's gone now.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

You will find happiness someday.

What about you?

I had my happiness early.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness our faith as we

celebrate the life of Private First Class Joseph Smithfield.

We've come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.

May God grant her grace that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in

death resurrection.

All that you have given us is yours.

As first you gave Joseph Smithfield to us, now we give Joseph Smithfield back

you.

Receive Joseph Smithfield into the arms of your mercy.

Raise Joseph Smithfield up with all your people.

Receive us also and raise us into a new life.

Help us so to love and serve you in this world that we may enter your joy in the

world to come.

Amen.

this flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation as a token of our

appreciation for the honorable and dutiful service rendered by your son

you

Thank you.

What will you do now?

Remember him for the rest of my life.

Mrs. Smithfield, my name is Sean Parker.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Parker.

I'd like to tell you about my son.

Joe comes from a family of Maureen.

His father, his grandfather, his great -grandfather.

We're so very proud of him.