They Were Expendable Page #3

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Dig a big hole over there to put

the garbage in and what-have-you.

Ik eep these pots and pans scrubbed.

Don't put anything in the bay,

whatever you do.

Holy smokes, cook!

You call that soup?

No, sir, that's dishwater.

Ensigns.

I suppose you're getting tired...

...of all this routine messenger

and patrol duty.

I know you're anxious to prove

your theory of the motor torpedo boat.

As you know...

...the Japs have Subic Bay.

They've got a cruiser at Fort Balanga

shelling our positions on Bataan.

We've either got to sink her...

...or pull out our troops.

Corregidor, Sisiman Cove, Subic.

The lines are here.

The Jap minefields here.

Their cruiser...

...there.

Sink her.

Excuse me, sir,

may I borrow that?

I think one boat,

don't you, Mr. Ryan?

No, I think two boats, Mr. Brickley.

Two boats, sir.

Shove off at dusk.

Good evening, gentlemen.

We haven't got enough

steel helmets to go around...

...so issue them to your gunners

and torpedo men.

I repeat again...

...do not open up on your radios

until you're sure they've spotted you.

Use your 50-calibers

to knock out the searchlights.

You said there'd be two boats.

Who's the second?

Rusty with the 34 boat.

That's all.

We'll shove off about 1800.

I'll regulate the speed...

...so we'll reach the end

of this leg here in darkness.

All right, Andy.

All right, let's go, Mahan.

Sir.

Nothing.

- Sir?

- Not a chance, Shorty.

Copy that in longhand

and give it to Andy on the 34 boat.

Eager beavers.

What's the matter with us?

We have the best boat.

And my boat's the fastest one

in the water.

Seventeen-thirty.

Doc, will you take a look

at this finger?

Fellas...

...we finally got the green light...

...to sink a Jap cruiser

in Subic Bay.

Through those Jap mines, artillery

and past them patrol boats.

One of our boats ought to get back.

Any of you guys not on time

don't get to go.

All right, Shakespeare.

You got blood poison to the elbow.

You belong in the hospital.

When I get back.

- If you don't want to lose it, go now.

- Put iodine on it and wrap it up.

Look, Doc, do me a favor.

Ik eep your mouth shut about it.

Don't forget to put a pinch of salt

in that pancake batter.

You'll find jam under my bunk.

Give them that.

All set, Rusty.

- Your arm all right?

- Sure.

Everything's ready.

Okay, Slug, relax until time

to shove off.

Hey, Rusty!

Let me see that arm.

You're going to sick bay, fella.

You aren't afraid of a little

competition, are you, Brick?

Shorty, the 31 boat'll go

instead of the 34. Get her ready.

I won't lose a good exec

because you're out of your head.

Secure the boat.

Mulcahey!

For two bits, I'd punch you

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