{2204}{2343}<i>Our story begins in the midsummer</i>|<i>of 1942 on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.</i> {2363}{2426}<i>Here the gentle surf</i>|<i>which rolled on Waikiki...</i> {2431}{2521}<i>... occasionally drowned out</i>|<i>the roar of planes overhead.</i> {2526}{2615}<i>Constant reminders of the task</i>|<i>to be done.</i> {2620}{2708}<i>The Japanese had conquered</i>|<i>the island chain to Guadalcanal...</i> {2713}{2776}<i>... and we had to start</i>|<i>the long climb back...</i> {2781}{2871}<i>... despite the initial lack</i>|<i>of men and materiel.</i> {2884}{2964}<i>This is the story of a group</i>|<i>of young American men...</i> {2968}{3037}<i>... who comprised the</i>|<i>Marine Fighter Squadron...</i> {3042}{3109}<i>... VMF 247.</i> {3114}{3207}<i>Men representing and represented by</i>|<i>the American flag...</i> {3212}{3301}<i>... which flew at the base</i>|<i>of a sleeping volcano.</i> {3306}{3351}<i>Unmistakable evidence that our country...</i> {3389}{3446}<i>... then, as always,</i>|<i>would fight against aggression...</i> {3487}{3574}<i>... and all the aggressors</i>|<i>that challenged the rights of free men.</i> {3630}{3671}Here it is, Mac. Come and get it. {3677}{3753}Come on, fellas. Let's celebrate.|Come on and get your beer. {3758}{3804}Save one of those for me! {3828}{3888}- Hey, beer!|- I'll always take a beer. {3937}{3988}- Here he is!|- Come on, give me a beer. {4133}{4162}Captain Griffin. {4167}{4239}Being that I'm the smartest,|I was selected to make a speech... {4244}{4290}...of congratulation.|- Attention! {4352}{4416}Gentlemen, Major Kirby,|your new squadron commander. {4425}{4471}This isn't usual, major. {4480}{4509}May I speak, sir? {4514}{4543}Go ahead. {4548}{4586}Well, this is a joke, sir. {4591}{4656}We thought when Major Hardy|was injured that Griff... {4668}{4735}I mean, Captain Griffin|would be in command. {4740}{4808}I mean, with the urgency|and all and us on alert... {4813}{4934}...well, we arranged this, or I arranged it,|as sort of a rib, sir, to congratulate him... {4939}{4975}...if you see what I mean. {4980}{5018}I see. {5039}{5108}Well, relax, men.|And you can hang on to that beer. {5112}{5163}It's scarce enough in the islands. {5168}{5246}I know we'll see no more beer|in the ready room... {5255}{5361}...but this is an unusual occasion.|We'll forget it. {5365}{5458}When the command meets the commander|for the first time, it's like a wedding. {5463}{5519}Nobody knows how|it's gonna turn out. {5524}{5618}Whether it'll be a happy|golden anniversary or a divorce. {5669}{5698}We'll see. {5774}{5814}What's this? {5843}{5898}- On your way to a rodeo?|- No, sir. No. {5903}{5951}It's just because I got high arches. {5956}{6000}Almost all Texans got high arches. {6005}{6084}Heredity. You know, like Eskimo babies,|they got thicker skin... {6089}{6176}- But don't wear them when flying.|- My arches are as high in the air... {6181}{6234}...as on the ground.|- Not when flying. {6239}{6273}- Yes, sir.|- Major. {6288}{6369}This character takes some getting|used to. He's conversational. {6373}{6456}But I put up with him for two reasons.|One, he's my brother-in-law. {6461}{6517}The other reason is, this idiot is rich. {6522}{6610}As soon as this ruckus is over,|I'm going to retire on his money. {6615}{6681}I hope the major knows I was|just clowning about the boots. {6686}{6716}Sure. {6860}{6894}Thank you. {7012}{7077}This squadron has a warning order|to stand by. {7096}{7188}I can tell you we will be receiving orders|to move out almost any minute. {7193}{7267}Start getting your personal gear|and personal affairs up to date. {7272}{7327}Well, anyway. {7440}{7488}See? He didn't get the job. {7493}{7600}Well, that's logical, since the minds working|under those brass hats work in reverse. {7604}{7721}Fellas, I think we looked a little jerky when|our new CO got his first hinge at us. {7726}{7824}I've heard about this guy. He's rugged.|He led close air-support training... {7829}{7906}...at North Island. He made them|come so close to the beach... {7911}{8008}...they picked up seashells in oil coolers.|- You guys are wrong. {8014}{8052}He's all right. {8059}{8090}I know he's all right. {8099}{8194}Here's the squadron roster and table|of organization. We're in good shape. {8206}{8239}Come. {8290}{8330}May I speak to the major, sir? {8335}{8366}Go ahead. {8381}{8458}I'd like to thank you, sir.|That letter sure helped my family. {8463}{8510}I mean, it was written|in a way that<i>...</i> {8516}{8570}Well, it helped us all, about my brother. {8581}{8616}That's all I wanted to say. {8620}{8678}- Your brother? What's your name?|- Malotke, sir. {8684}{8766}My brother's name was Joe.|He served with you at Midway. {8772}{8832}Oh, Big Joe Malotke. Good guy. {8837}{8924}Sorry. If you're half as good|a man as your brother... {8929}{8998}...l'll be proud to have you|in my command, lieutenant. {9003}{9032}Thank you, sir. {9159}{9238}Give me a rundown on each man,|job by job. {9300}{9355}Captain Carl Griffin, executive officer. {9360}{9405}And they call you Carl? {9418}{9446}Griff. {9464}{9534}Captain Walter Tanner,|communications officer. {9538}{9587}- Good man.|- Fine. {9628}{9689}Captain Harold Jorgensen... {9711}{9755}...operations officer. {9760}{9847}- Major, may I speak frankly?|- Sure. {9856}{9928}It's me you're worried about,|and naturally. {9934}{9991}When they don't give|the squadron to the exec... {9996}{10052}...it's because he hasn't|been recommended. {10057}{10107}Naturally, the new CO|would be worried. {10112}{10143}I like plain speaking. {10148}{10195}- What was the beef?|- No beef. {10200}{10283}I didn't think Major Hardy would|recommend me. We just didn't mesh. {10288}{10341}You think he acted out|of personal dislike? {10346}{10381}You know Hardy? {10408}{10478}I don't think he ever acted|on an emotion of any kind. {10483}{10553}I think it was his honest opinion|that I wasn't up to command. {10558}{10642}I think he was wrong, but that's|just a case of different opinion. {10659}{10706}Well, that's life in these Marines. {10711}{10791}You want a combat command|and I want to sell the brass a pet theory. {10796}{10859}- Close air support for ground troops.|- That's right. {10865}{10927}Here we are, so let's get the job done.|The name's Dan. {10932}{10989}- We'll make a squadron out of this.|- What else? {11047}{11111}How can you call|this stuff personal effects? {11117}{11178}Well, this concludes|my affairs in Honolulu. {11184}{11265}- I'd like a copy of those conclusions.|- I bet you would. {11376}{11418}What can you say in 10 words? {11424}{11483}What did you say|your phone number was? {11488}{11542}Come on!|Get the lead out of that pencil. {11547}{11591}Ten words, Shakespeare. {11643}{11699}Okay, Malotke, okay. {11792}{11831}It's from Bert. {11836}{11895}He just says he can't|write for some time. {11914}{11951}Going away, I guess. {12008}{12071}- I wonder if it's Midway, like Joe.|- No. {12077}{12131}Midway, we got. {12183}{12257}- Jorgy, I'll see you at the club.|- Okay, Bert. {12288}{12338}Mrs. Jorgensen, it's from your husband. {12344}{12415}The 10th word is "love."|Shall I leave it on the table for you? {12420}{12457}No. {12658}{12705}- Okay, Billy.|- Thank you, my friend. {12876}{12954}It's from that cute little Billy Castle. {12959}{13046}I just love that boy. {13064}{13099}Excuse me. {13337}{13420}- Do you think we'll have time?|- Sure. We'll make the time, Charlie. {13426}{13466}Okay, then. {13548}{13611}Got word from your son, Charlie. {13694}{13752}He says he can't write for quite a while. {13757}{13836}But he knows that his|ma and pa will know that... {13841}{13943}...he will act so that they can know there|will be no shame brought on his lodge... {13948}{14021}...and to tell his sisters|to take good care of his horses... {14026}{14073}...and to keep on with their schoolwork. {14148}{14206}At this rate, I'll be here all night. {14211}{14283}- Bedtime story.|- Bedtime story. {14289}{14344}Your daddy sent you a bedtime story. {14350}{14390}I'll read it to you. {14434}{14484}Papa says he's on a big island. {14489}{14548}But he's gonna fly away very soon... {14554}{14620}...and then hurry back to us. {14625}{14672}But in the meantime... {14676}{14738}...he wants us not to do anything wrong... {14744}{14792}...and to take care of each other. {14812}{14875}As soon as he gets back,|we're going to live on the ranch. {14933}{14978}- Can I have a pony?|- Of course. {14982}{15103}<i>All night, the coded messages said</i>|<i>"Urgent. Urgent. Urgent.</i>" {15108}{15206}<i>It seemed hard to believe that anything was</i>|<i>urgent on that beautiful Pacific dawn...</i> {15212}{15309}<i>... when VMF 247 sailed</i>|<i>for Cactus Airfield...</i> {15315}{15369}<i>... on the island of Guadalcanal.</i> {15375}{15428}<i>What urgency there was.</i> {15433}{15497}<i>The hard-pressed ground troops</i>|<i>were holding the airstrip...</i> {15502}{15570}<i>... only by effort beyond maximum.</i> {15581}{15698}<i>On the 16th day of August, the battle for</i>|<i>Guadalcanal was still very much in doubt.</i> {15888}{15965}Cactus Base. Richter speaking.|Put Colonel Riley on. {15970}{16036}He's right here, sir.|It's Colonel Richter, sir. {16078}{16126}Hello, Red. How's it going? {16176}{16263}Your overlay got here. Let's get a look|at it. I'll ca...
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