In Harm's Way Page #3

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Roll two.

They're on it, sir.

They hit the cruiser!

- Reports from damage control.

- She's dead in the water.

- Midship damage control won't answer.

- Shall I go below, sir?

- Tell me when you locate the damage.

- That arm's busted.

- What's wrong?

- The door's jammed.

Get a message to Pearl: "Have taken

two torpedoes" - fill in our position -

- "Will advise on damage. "

- And break radio silence, sir?

Burke, don't you think the Japanese

know by now where we are?

Aye, aye, sir.

The door may blow. Stand clear!

Griggs, get those mattresses down.

Stand by to fire another full pattern.

Order the destroyers back to Pearl

at best possible speed, zigzagging.

- Cassiday got the sub, sir. Definite kill.

- Hold it!

Have all ships return to Pearl

at 20 knots, except the Cassiday.

Have her stand by

in case we have to abandon ship.

OK...

- Compliments of Cdr. Eddington.

- Just give me the word.

Cdr. Eddington says

this old tub'll float, sir.

- At ease.

- Thank you, sir.

Full report.

We halted the fires up forward

where we took the first torpedo.

And we stopped the flow

of water at Hatch 26.

Cdr. Eddington said to tell the old man -

I'm sorry, sir, the captain -

that he'd better start

thinking about a tow.

May I also say, sir,

that Cdr. Eddington is hell on wheels.

- What are the casualties?

- At least 40 men were trapped.

- 40 men, maybe more.

- Cassiday coming alongside, sir.

Take care of this boy.

Nice work, Harding.

You did a four-o job on that sub.

Thank you, sir.

I'm not Commander Harding.

- Where is he?

- Ashore, sir.

- Who's in command?

- I am, sir. Lieutenant J G McConnel.

Did I hear "Lieutenant Junior Grade"?

William McConnel, class of '38.

- Can you rig for towing?

- Can do, sir.

Can you pass some

portable pumps to us?

Can do, sir.

Carry on, mister.

Can do.

Oh, Rock of Ages.

We got ourselves another war.

A gut-bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war.

It does seem to shape up that way,

Commander Eddington.

Captain Torrey,

the admiral will see you now.

Thank you.

- Please sit down, Captain.

- Thank you, sir.

I wasn't aware you'd been hurt.

A simple fracture, sir.

It won't interfere with my duties.

You have a remarkable record,

Captain Torrey.

- Thank you, sir.

- Save your thanks.

I'm relieving you of your command

pending a court of inquiry.

I don't understand.

You weren't zigzagging

when you took the torpedo.

I was stretching my fuel, sir.

If you didn't have enough fuel,

why didn't you turn back?

My mission was to engage an enemy

of greatly superior strength.

I could only take that one way:

my group was expendable.

I doubt a court of inquiry

will accept that.

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