1
Escort, halt!
Firing party.
Atten... hut!
Please rise for
the rendering of military honours.
Present arms!
Firing party, fire three volleys.
Take a breath. Stand by.
Ready.
Ready.
Aim.
Fire.
Ready.
Aim.
Fire.
Ready.
Aim.
Fire.
Ready.
Present arms!
This is patrol.
We've got a couple of people hit here.
Present arms!
They struck two. I've got, er...
a para-medevac here
took two rounds in the chest.
Roger that.
The other, he's got
one round in the arm, right arm.
Roger that.
What's going to be the ETA
back to, er, death stop?
It looks like we might make it
in about seven minutes. We'll push it.
Roger that.
This trail...
trail's down to about nine.
Okay, let's get that guy aboard.
Roger that. I'm on you.
Let's get him on and get out.
Er, we can't take
anybody else out here.
Make sure that guy
doesn't get on.
Roger that.
Jesus Christ!
Medevac's down. Medevac's down.
Medevac's hit.
Roger. We got one down.
Guidon. Parade, hut!
On behalf of the President
of the United States,
please accept this flag
in recognition
of your loved one's
faithful service.
Ma'am, on behalf of the
Chief of Staff of the Army,
and the Army Arlington Ladies,
we extend to you our deepest
sympathies, and God bless you.
Dear Sarge,
maybe this is
my last letter to you.
I feel that it is.
Rache.
I lost three men
today, three of my good ones.
But that's the way it is,
isn't it?
You always lose the good ones.
What do I tell their folks?
What would you tell my wife?
As for me, it's funny,
but I always thought
I'd been here before.
I've been a soldier
all my life, Sarge.
I mean it, all my life.
Even when I was a kid.
Well, I'm here,
but it's all wrong.
It wasn't supposed
to be like this.
Sure, there was going to be
blood and sacrifice
and... and death.
I knew that, Sarge,
but not like this.
You tried to tell me
how it was.
Right from that
very first day, you tried.
But I was so young,
so sure I had the answers.
Well, I don't think
I have the answers any more.
All I've got are questions.
- Specialist Jack Willow reporting.
- Pete Deveber. Company clerk, man.
- Nice to meet you, Pete.
- Nice to meet you, too.
Okay, your platoon's
on a drop in the garden.
- Drop?
- Yeah, burial.
Arlington.
That's what we do here.
Fuckin' Nam's made buryin'
folks a real growth industry.
We're up to 15 drops a day.
Bing, bing, bing, bing.
But, since you missed this one,
you can take the rest
of the morning off.
I shall cover it, all right?
That's real friendly of you.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm a friendly type, man.
Is that the top kick's desk?
Yeah. Slasher Williams.
Slasher?
Yeah.
He did some boxing in Nam.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Oh, that reminds me.
I told him I'd, er,
get somebody to pull
guard duty tonight.
Oh, no sweat. I'll take it.
I think, um... I think
you're gonna like Top, man.
I think you guys are gonna
hit it off. I really do.
Hiya, Top.
Hey! Hey!
Who the hell are you?
Sarge, Jack Willow's
doing guard duty tonight.
It might interest
you to know, Dildo,
that night guard duty is
the ugliest duty you can pull,
and already had been pulled
by little shit-for-brains.
Over there, his own self.
Yeah, I know, Top. He told me.
I, ah... it's okay.
I volunteered.
You volunteered in my company?
A fudge-nose volunteer
in my company?
Dildo, you have managed
to top my shit list
in exactly 13 fucking seconds!
You got a problem
with this boy, Top?
No, Sergeant Major.
Not exactly.
I could hear you cussing
all the way to the latrine.
This boy bugger your pet goat
or something?
I thought I'd drop by,
catch the score.
Yeah, well,
I think it's a disgrace,
a disgrace that
that unit of toy soldiers
is permitted to wear the
crossed rifles of the infantry.
- Easy.
- Especially at a time
when the real infantry is
crawling through rice paddies
and buffalo shit in Vietnam.
That's what I think.
Who knows? I've let enough
people know how I think
to make myself very unpopular
around here.
- Sergeant Hazard.
- Sir.
What's the debate about?
I was just telling
the Sergeant Major here, sir,
that I thought the best thing I
could do for the Army, my Army,
is to get the snot-noses like
these ready for the inevitable.
- And that's why I want to teach...
- Clell...
- Clell.
- Sir?
You just applied for a
transfer and I denied it.
- Now, that's it. No discussion.
- Right.
Ah, he's the best damn soldier
on this post.
Except for maybe, er,
Sergeant Major Nelson.
What's he doing here?
He did serve two tours
in Nam, man. Captain!
New man. Wanted to meet you.
Outstanding.
Come into my office.
We'll have a little chat.
You see me when
you're through, Dildo.
That's Willow, Top.
Common mistake.
So, you want
to get laid tonight,
or you rather have some fun?
In the foul mood I'm in, I'd...
I'd even consider hanging out
with you, old buddy.
Sergeant Major, Sergeant.
Sorry, sir.
Sir Butterbar.
- Have a seat.
- Thank you, sir.
Welcome to Delta Company,
Specialist Dildo.
It's Willow, sir.
Specialist Willow.
Oh, so it is. So it is.
Home of record, Fort Huachuca.
You an army brat, Willow?
Yes, sir. My father is, or he was,
a master sergeant, sir.
He's retired now.
I see.
College basketball,
starting guard.
Outstanding.
We could use
another good player.
Especially a white one.
You work hard
and you'll be an NCO yourself
before you know it.
Chip off the old block, eh?
Well, sir,
I was thinking of shooting
a little higher than that.
Er, I'm... I'm interested
in applying for OCS.
And while we're on the subject,
sir, I'd like to apply
for a transfer to a line unit
in Vietnam, sir.
I don't think you fully
realise what a privilege it is
to serve here in the Old Guard.
We're the escort
to the President.
And this is
the most STRAC outfit
in the United States Army.
Now, you listen to me, son.
You got plenty of time
for Vietnam.
As for OCS,
you do a good job for me here,
show me you're
officer material,
and I'll personally see
that you get a shot.
The army could always use
another bright young shavetail.
- What do you say? Okay?
- Yes, sir.
All right, that'll be all.
- See you around, Pete.
- See you, man.
How you doin'?
Sergeant.
Yeah?
Er, I can't figure this.
The shoes have little
steel plates on the insoles.
Yes, that's right.
That's so every time you bring
your feet together
it makes a nice loud crack.
Welcome to show business,
soldier.
It's a real honour to meet you,
Sergeant. Specialist Willow.
Is that right? Why?
Well, for one thing, we're the
only two men in this place
who seem to want out.
Want out? To where?
Front line unit in Vietnam,
sir... Sergeant.
There is no
front line in Vietnam.
Not like the other wars.
Hell, it's not even a war.
Nothing to win.
No way to win it.
If that's how you feel,
Sergeant,
why are you going back?
I'm not.
There's nothing for me
over there.
I know this unit in Nam.
They print up
these little cards.
They say, er,
"Killing is our business,
and business is good."
Well, here,
burying is our business.
Our business is better.
Don't you be in such a hurry
to get yourself starched.
Carry on.
You knew my father,
didn't you, Sergeant?
Shelby Willow.
Yeah.
Korea.
We, er... ran the gauntlet
to the Chongchon River.
We were friends.
He still raising hell?
He had two heart attacks.
He's fine now.
Retired, back in Kentucky.
He recalls you very fondly.
Asked to be remembered.
My dad doesn't view
the war the way you do.
He has a more conventional
infantryman's point of view.
- Yeah.
- I guess he's just
a more conventional guy.
Yeah, I see.
Well, I got funeral training.
Ten minutes.
Son, you, er... think of it,
tell your daddy "Hi"
for me, yeah?
Carry on.
You know, I'd never get tired
of watching your mind at work.
It's truly amazing.
If you're waiting for me to cheat,
I got way too much character.
Mm-hmm.
You know, er... that kid?
He made it over
to Delta all right,
and I want to thank you for
double-shuffling the papers.
Well, he was heading
for Honour Guard Company,
but I figured, what the hell,
why let those meatballs
turn the kid into a fruitcake?
You can do that 'bout well
as anybody I know.
Whose kid is he, anyway?
Shelby's kid. Shelby Willow.
We took care of
each other in Korea,
till we had our hands full
taking care of your ass.
- Oh, yeah. I remember him.
- Yeah.
Whoops, I got this...
this letter here.
"Dear Clell," blah, blah, blah.
He's got a wife in the nuthouse
and all he can talk about
is how sorry he is about me
and Linda breaking up,
like it happened yesterday.
And how rough
it must be on, er...
with me not seeing my boy,
Mackie, and all.
Anyway, and here's
the last line:
"Maybe, er...
you could look after my boy
"now and again.
"Shelby."
Where does a red Jack
go on a red Queen? Where?
These are my oriental cards.
These are your oriental cards!
How are you?
Oh. Sun's gone.
Can I, er... help you
with those, Miss?
No, I'm fine. Thanks.
Takes forever sometimes,
really.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Sara?
Sue?
You're S Davis, aren't you?
Only women use initials.
They think it fools everyone.
Mmm, funny.
Worked fine till now.
Yeah. Heh.
Stephanie? Sophie?
- Sam.
- Huh?
Samantha.
It's a nice car.
Corvair. I...
I watch you come and go.
Look, um, I'm...
I'm real sorry I said all those
dumb things in there.
And I know how, er...
when a girl doesn't want
to lead a guy on
she kind of clams up.
Yeah, well,
girls are like that.
I... I... I just meant I know
you're not a rude person.
Thanks.
Er... the thing is, my good
friend is... is coming over
with his lady friend for dinner
and I thought maybe
you'd like to join us.
Yeah, well, thanks,
but I'm expecting a call.
Er... what time?
Chico. Tonight.
Chico!
Sorry.
Chico!
Chico.
Er, look, er... the thing
of it is you really...
you really don't have
a call tonight.
And I don't know why this is
so damned important to me.
Well, er... thanks.
Oh, what time?
Ma'am?
What time?
You, er...?
Oh, er... well, er...
19:30 hours.
Seven thirty.
Okay.
Seven thirty.
- Sergeant Major.
- Hey, good dog.
- Yo.
- You and, er, Betty Rae.
Dinner at my place, huh?
Sorry, er... paperwork tonight.
I'm pretending
I'm running the post.
Look, it's a girl and she's not
gonna come if we're alone.
Watch my lips, kid.
No. Way. No. How.
All right, I'm cutting
to the bottom line, pal.
Nha Trang, 1962. Did I
or did I not save your sorry ass
at extreme risk to my very own?
You got a lot of nerve, Clell.
How big is this gal's booty,
anyway?
Hey, hey. Cut the goddamn crap
and stop evading the issue.
You owe me, pal,
and I'm calling in my marker.
If I do this, do I have your
solemn word that I will never
hear about this ancient-history
bullshit ever again?
You do, you do.
Okay, what time?
Er... you be here, er...
19:30.
Okay.
I'll call Betty Rae 'cause I
got to ogle that booty.
Hey, and Goody,
watch your mouth.
Fuckin' A.
Bastard.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Come on in.
I'm sorry, my friends
are a little late.
Er... a little white wine okay?
Oh, fine, thank you.
Thank you.
It's good.
Oh, er... I, er...
I bought it special.
Just showing off.
What do you do?
I write for
The Washington Post.
I came up from
The Charlotte Observer
in North Carolina.
Would you excuse me
for a second?
Sure.
This is beautiful.
Is it Persian?
Oh, yeah, mm.
They're all, er...
ah, Persian.
- This is called an isfahan.
- Hmm.
- And, er... this here is a shiraz.
- Oh.
That faded red one
over there is a kalim.
Oh.
And this one here behind me is, er...
one I got in Kurdistan.
Uh-huh.
Ah, well...
When your back was turned, I...
I was admiring your book collection.
I write for papers, so I'm
kind of an incurable snoop.
Anyway, interesting books.
Interesting everything.
Interesting, or interesting
for someone like me?
Is this another lesson
about girls?
Girls are condescending
to soldiers?
I don't know how y'all survive
in that hotbed of communism
down there workin'
at that Post and all.
Now, that's somethin'.
Oh, yeah.
Pravda on the Potomac.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Yeah, well, workin'
for Senator Ervin and all,
I was about to ask you
the same thing.
Ooh, now, now, sugar.
Sam Ervin prides himself
in not bein' left of anybody.
- That's for sure.
- 'Cept maybe his mama.
Anyway... except
these two red-blooded
American storm troopers
right here.
Oh, is that what brought
you boys together?
Right-wing politics?
So, what do you guys do
on that army post?
What do...?
Clell, old boy, you mean
you haven't told the lady?
Why, madam,
we are the Old Guard.
We are the nation's
toy soldiers.
We march with rifles
that cannot shoot.
We fix bayonets
that cannot stick.
We are the Kabuki theatre
of the profession of arms.
Jesters in the court of Mars,
God of War.
Doo-dah, doo-dah.
Now, Goody Nelson,
you just hush.
You hush that up right now.
You been hangin'
around Clell so long,
you're beginning to sound
just like him.
Bitter, and cynical,
and irreverent.
You have to be among
the Army's top people to get in.
And it is a right nice honour,
I think,
and a privilege
for both Goody and Clell
to have been asked to join.
Wait a minute. We weren't asked!
I mean, honestly.
But, er..., we were...
we were ordered.
I mean, actually, er...
Goody and I, we...
we applied for a teaching
position at the infantry school.
Yeah, we once thought
that we could help a few of 'em
come back standing up
instead of stretched out
in those little boxes we plant
in the ground every day.
Well, you're both sounding
like a couple of echoes to me.
Now, come on, you two.
Where's the rest
of this wonderful meal?
Excusez-moi. Excusez-moi.
So how did you meet Goody?
Well, one day,
a constituent from home
walked into Senator Ervin's office,
and he wanted a tour
of Fort Myer.
So, I took him on the tour...
- Well, Clell, ol' buddy.
- Yeah.
Your sudden attack
of good taste is surprising.
I mean, that is some
classy-looking woman.
- Shh-shh-shh-shh.
- I do believe I could drag...
- my balls over her...
- Shh. Hey, hey, hey.
Come on, you promised, Goody.
Please knock it off, will ya?
I'll do it. I'll do it.
Now, let's get back in there
so I can ogle them gals
some more.
Yum, yum, yum.
...I fell in love with the
Sergeant Major on the spot,
as any well-bred genteel
Southern girl would have.
Oh, that's beautiful.
- Make a hole.
- Make it wide.
Yeah.
There you have it.
Looks like these
two are really getting along.
Here's to us and those like us.
Damn few left.
Most of them are dead.
Oh, can I...? Can I serve?
Yahs'm.
Is Goody always so...?
Oh, no, no.
He, er... he is
when he likes someone,
and he likes you.
Are all Army sergeants
like you two?
Well, no.
That's a shame.
I had a great time tonight,
Clell.
It was the best evening
I've had in a long, long time.
Good.
Thank you for asking me.
Thank you, Sam.
Call me.
Good night.
Hey.
All right, let's go.
Top of the morning, girls.
Let's get up.
Come on, let's look alive.
Walters, get out of the rack here.
Come on. Let's go, let's move.
Come on, get up.
Wildman?
Let's move, come on.
Up and at 'em, guys.
Let's put away the funny books
and get squared away
for inspection, soldier.
Yes, sir.
Trey, get down. Knock out 10.
Yes, Sergeant.
One, Sergeant.
Two, Sergeant.
Three, Sergeant.
Four, Sergeant.
Five, Sergeant.
Six, Sergeant.
Seven, Sergeant.
Eight, Sergeant.
Nine, Sergeant. Ten.
Permission to recover, Sergeant?
Recover.
- Looking good. Looking good.
- Thank you, sir.
Fix that fuckin'... get that
pant leg off the ground.
Yes, sir.
What are you looking
at the back of my head for?
- I don't need a haircut.
- No, sir.
Wildman, cool it.
He's on ya.
Wildman, you spastic
son of a bitch!
Get up. Get to parade rest.
I said parade rest right now.
This is the United States Army
Third Infantry Old Guard,
not a three-ring circus!
Look at this shoe, man!
It looks like it was shined
with a hot Hershey bar!
What's wrong with you?
I guess I'm gonna have to run
chain of command by you
one more time.
It's very simple.
It goes like this.
The lieutenant chews out
Sergeant Hazard's ass.
Sergeant Hazard
chews out my ass.
I chew out you.
It's called
the chain of command.
Very simple.
Shit rolls downhill.
Do you understand?
I said do you understand me?
- At ease.
- Come on, Sergeant.
Just tryin' to help out.
Why don't you let me
work with him for a while?
You got better things to do.
Yeah,
Specialist-wannabe-Private,
why don't you work with him
for a while?
Yes, Sergeant.
I got better things to do.
Taylor, you got that bunk
squared away?
- Let's see the shoe.
- Yes, Sergeant!
- A little more work, brother.
- Yes, sir!
Come on, I'll show you.
You guys talking or
are you working over there?
You dickhead.
Okay, you're using
real spit, right?
Yeah, it's a spit shine.
- You gotta use real spit.
- You need cold water and cotton balls.
- Little word to the wise.
- No spit?
Get your shoes squared away...
Like this.
Small circles.
Gotta build up a base, okay?
It's gonna take some time.
Give it a shot.
Pull those laces out
and press them.
All right,
all right, all right,
you heroes, listen up.
Nothing but stocking feet
until 0-9-5-8 hours.
Do not put shoes on until...
How far away are we?
We have it under control, sir.
- He's in Bravo.
- Right.
Thanks.
A word to the wise...
I'll stall him.
Okeydoke.
...out of your ass.
When the inspection begins,
Colonel Godwin will chat
with some of you troops,
real homey shit.
Outstanding.
Do not step on your dicks.
That is an order.
Just say you are
from Asshole, Arkansas
or some fuckin' place
and you love the Army
and shut up!
If I find slobber
in these canteens,
you will drink it.
Make a hole. Make it wide.
Soldier!
You told the Colonel
you like the Army, soldier.
- Where are you from?
- From Columbus, Ohio, Sergeant Major.
Are there any more like you
back home in Columbus, Ohio?
Not that I'm aware of,
Sergeant Major.
Do you have any sisters
back home in Columbus, Ohio?
Yes, Sergeant Major.
I have one sister.
Is she sexually active?
Of course not, Sergeant Major.
I mean, she's my sister.
She's only 13.
That's too bad.
Never underestimate the value
of early training and
proper breaking in, soldier.
Make a hole. Make it wide!
What's your name, soldier?
Willow, Sergeant Major.
- How do you like the Army, Willow?
- I like it fine, Sergeant Major.
Mm-hmm.
You ever take biology
in school, soldier?
Yes, Sergeant Major.
How do worms copulate?
They don't, Sergeant Major.
They use asexual reproduction.
Mm-hmm.
Interesting concept.
Tell me, Willow,
any idea who first came up
with that notion,
reproducing without sex?
Your wife, Sergeant Major?
Forget it, fellas.
Uh-uh, no gigs on this platoon.
They make it through clean.
Wildman.
"Yum, yum, yum,"
said the big hungry bear.
Let's just see what we
got here.
Gracious me.
Pray.
Who you got babysitting
this kid, Clell?
Mr Asexual Reproduction?
All right!
Hmm.
Well,
I think I know what that is,
but I don't know if he does.
Sergeant Hazard.
At ease.
Halt.
Ready?
Up.
Ready?
Step.
Ashes to ashes,
and dust to dust.
Why don't they hurry this up
so we can get back on the bus?
- No shit.
- Steady.
Ready?
Down.
Atten... hut!
Guidon.
Parade... hut!
Secure casket.
Guidon, 'ten... hut!
Escort.
Pershing's own.
Atten... hut!
- Right...
- Right.
Face!
Right shoulder...
Right shoulder.
Arms!
Colours, ready? Hut.
Guidon. Ready... hut!
At slow cadence. Forward...
Forward.
Hut!
...to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Evening, Sergeant Major,
Platoon Sergeant.
You wanted to see me?
What?
You wanted to see me.
No, nobody wants to see you.
We just want to buy you a beer.
Sit down, relax.
Hey, Zeke, draw three!
You know, er... Sergeant Major
is a friend of your dad's
from the Korean war days.
Now, then,
as to results of
recent battalion inspection...
You see, kid,
as the good book says,
"Some days the bear eats you,
some days you eat the bear."
Which means that we won
the inspection,
Wildman and all.
- Hey!
- Damn good today, kid.
Sharpest-looking trooper
I've seen all week.
That includes them prima-donna geeks
over at Honour Guard Company.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks, Sergeant Major.
Well, er... the, er...
Willow here,
he, er...
he wants to go to Vietnam.
He feels that
an infantryman's place
in the time of war
is at the front.
There ain't no front in Vietnam.
That's what Sergeant Hazard says.
Yeah.
It's a funny little war, kid.
Things have changed.
Like what?
Well, to begin with, "the peace-loving
people of Vietnam..."
Aw, "the peace-loving..."
If I hear that one more time,
I'm gonna puke.
That is the most bellicose
race of people I've ever seen.
They've been fightin' somebody
for a thousand years,
- and they like it.
- Damn right.
And I... I don't really give
a rat's ass about Vietnam.
Matter of fact, I...
I don't give a wombat's shit
about who's running Vietnam.
As a matter of fact, to be very honest,
I really don't care about
who's running the US of A.
Don't you care about anything?
Oh, yeah. Yeah. I care
about the United States Army.
That's my family.
The only one I got.
And I don't like it
when it's in trouble.
Trouble?
Sarge, we beat King George
when we were the guerrillas,
- and we beat Hitler.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And... and we beat
everybody in between.
Now, we're not gonna go out
and lose the first one
to a bunch of gutty little
Asian farmers.
Yeah?
You take a look at that farmer.
He can march a hundred miles
on no food,
through jungle
you would not believe,
slaughter his own people,
babies if he has to,
and that is a soldier.
Firepower. He can't keep
soaking up our firepower.
I saw a photo, wire photo.
One of our choppers coming
back with arrows in it.
Arrows.
High-technology helicopter.
How do you beat a helicopter
with bows and arrows?
How you gonna beat an enemy
that fights helicopters
with bows and arrows?
Well, one thing's for sure.
You sure as hell
can't beat 'em from here,
Fort Goddamn Benning.
Wait. Hey. What...?
What do you want, man?
What do you want?
Don't like what I said?
Yeah.
You want it.
Too late for that,
man. What's going on?
Well, let's go at it.
Honour Guard. They're fighting!
Well, here's to us and those like us.
Damn few left.
You know, your kid
is gettin' killed in there.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
Make a hole, make it wide.
Hey, get off the floor!
Yahoo!
I spied a young cowboy
All dressed in white linen
And cold as the clay
I can see by your outfit
That you are a cowboy
I see by your...
Whoa.
Hey, wait up.
- Hey, Peter, old salt.
- Come on. Get up.
- Get it?
- Get it together.
Saltpeter. Ha, ha, ha.
I've been
waiting for you, man.
Oh, good.
Captain Thomas
wants to see you.
Let's put this on.
- Now?
- Put on the jacket.
Now.
There you go, buddy.
Willow reporting
as ordered, sir.
You wanted to see me?
Sit down.
Er... your father
had a cardiac arrest
at eight o'clock.
It was over very quickly,
so he didn't suffer very much.
I'm sorry.
We'll give you a few minutes
alone here, son.
Um, Willow.
Dildo, Top, remember?
Common mistake.
Your daddy
was a master sergeant.
This is good for a week.
You need more time,
you call me personal, hear?
If I recollect, er...
this is the only one I got
that, er...
your dad doesn't already have,
so make sure that, er...
well, you...
you put that with him, okay?
- Sarge, I...
- Hey.
I... I been thinking.
Is it too late
to change my mind?
Get my father into Arlington?
No, of course not.
Er, you know Goody.
He can fix anything.
I know it'll just be
a bare patch
with the bulldozers
and everything,
but I was hoping you could
find him a spot in the garden.
No problem.
Okay.
Forward, hut!
The history of the Third
United States Infantry
reflects the growth
and development of our nation.
In 1922 the War Department
granted permission
to the Old Guard to pass and
review with bayonets fixed.
The Old Guard
will now fix bayonets
to the traditional beat
of the drum.
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Ceremonial!
Ceremonial.
At ease!
Since the days of
the American Revolution,
the colours have been one
of the most important elements
of a military unit as soldiers
kept their position
in a formation
by dressing on the colour.
Therefore, at the centre
of our formation,
and bearing the national colour,
is this nation's foremost
colour team,
the Third Infantry's
Continental Colour Guard.
Next on line is Company D.
Company D is led by Unit
Commander, Captain Thomas.
Following is Company E,
Honour Guard.
Company E is led by its
Commander, Captain Harrison.
Right, hut!
The last element on line,
dressed in the continental
musician's uniform
is the Old Guard
Fife and Drum Corps.
During the American Revolution,
General George Washington
ordered that musicians
wear red coats
instead of the infantry blue
so they might be
more easily recognised
through the smoke of battle.
The corps is led today
by Drum Major Phipps.
I put Betty Rae through
the third degree about you.
Is that right?
What secrets did she spill?
That you were married.
That you were divorced
about three years ago.
Yeah, that's true.
That you have a son.
True.
Um, Linda left me
when I re-upped
for my second tour.
I haven't seen Mackie since.
And through the years
I really, er...
never did see that much of him.
You said you were married.
Do you have any children?
No, I can't have children.
Yeah.
I'm sorry about your family.
They didn't come first, Sam.
This is not, er...
a very good business
for holding on to a woman.
If you don't come across,
it's gonna look bad
for your whole unit.
You may, however,
wait till we get inside.
Get in here!
Sergeant Major.
Sergeant, you wanted to see me?
Yeah.
You're out of uniform, boy.
I am?
Yeah, you are.
You will remain out of uniform
until I slap these on you.
Not bad for six months, huh?
Now, look, it seems that a
certain Sergeant Flanagan...
Huh?
Got drunk enough one night
to trash up
Dirty Marge's Beer Emporium.
Doing a hell of a job.
Cost himself a stripe
in the process.
The bear.
Mm-hmm. We had to, er...
scrape the very bottom
of the barrel.
I mean, the pits is what we got.
Oh, by the way,
these are not official
until they've been
properly tagged.
Tagged?
Er, you know, tagged,
like, tagged, you know?
I, er... now relinquish my spot
to, er... our senior bear,
Sergeant Major Nelson.
Oh, man.
Oh.
Look at him.
He can hardly wait.
He's starting to tremble.
All yours, Top.
Dildo.
The only thing that's lower
than a pig-fucking volunteer
is a duck-fucking
buck sergeant.
Goddamn it!
- I didn't hit him square.
- That's it. That's all.
Clell, Clell. Look, it...
Get off me. Hey!
Hey. I didn't hit him.
Hey. Hey, Clell.
- Hi. Jack.
- Hello.
- Pleasure to see you again, ma'am.
- You too.
Um, Clell's running
a little late at the post.
- So, er... I'm doing the cooking tonight.
- Oh.
- You're taking your chances.
- Ooh, thank you.
- Come on in.
- Thank you.
Come on.
Would you like
something to drink?
I wouldn't say no to a Coke.
Okay.
- Here you go.
- Thanks.
- Can I help?
- Sure.
Clell's told me a lot about you,
and your father.
He and Clell were
in combat together.
Yeah, Korea.
Being in combat together,
people can get very close.
Sit down.
Oh, thanks.
Of all my dad's decorations
the one he prized the most
was just the CIB.
That's his
Combat Infantryman's Badge.
That's a silver laurel wreath,
blue enamel shield,
and a silver Kentucky rifle.
Oh.
See, I figure if you're a soldier
and there's a war going on
there's only one place
for you to be.
Any war, no exceptions.
So I don't see eye to eye with
Sergeant Hazard on this one.
Working for the Post,
I imagine you do.
No.
Hardly.
Clell sees this war
as bad judgement, a screw-up.
I see it as genocide.
Well, goddamn it, Clell,
why can't you keep your
half-assed opinions to yourself?
Your asinine views
of the war have reached
the other company
commanders now.
Look, I wasn't aware
it was against regs
to voice an opinion, sir.
Don't be a fool
and don't be a smartass.
You know damn well it's always
been against regulations
to voice an opinion
in the United States Army.
The United States Army
is not interested in opinions.
Yes, sir.
Well, goddamn it. What the hell
am I gonna do with you, Clell?
You're a fine soldier, Clell.
But in a lot of ways you've been
nothing but a pain in the ass
since the first day
you got here.
Now you're becoming
an embarrassment to me.
My friends are asking me how's
my peacenik platoon sergeant.
I am not a peacenik, Captain.
I just don't agree
with the reasons
behind this particular war.
And if we're gonna fight it we
oughta goddamn fight it right.
All right, fine,
think anything you want.
Just keep it to yourself.
Maybe, er... maybe it was
a mistake for you
to have asked for me here.
And you could certainly rectify that
by approving my transfer, sir.
No, no, no, no.
You're not going to Fort Benning,
Sergeant Hazard.
You're not going anywhere,
Sergeant Hazard.
You're gonna stay right here
and make me proud of you,
Sergeant Hazard.
Tom.
Thank you.
Okay, but we
gotta get there on time, all right?
Don't get stuck in a cab again.
All right.
I'll see you down there.
You need a whole story, right?
Yeah, over there.
Come on, Seth.
Tell him to look at it.
- Yeah.
- All right. Bye.
I think it's very important
that you get there.
Well, what about
the reception tonight?
It's tomorrow night.
- Tomorrow night?
- Tomorrow night.
- Seven-thirty. I'll meet you right here.
- Okay.
That'll give you
time to get dolled up
and we can get to
the embassy on time.
- Eight o'clock.
- You got it.
- Okay. Right.
- Okay.
Oh, er... Sergeant's gonna
show me where they hide
the Persian rugs in this town.
I hope I didn't, er...
Oh, no.
Work. Reception.
And ambassadors, they like their
reporters dolled up, do they?
Yeah, sometimes.
These are very nice, er...
- Yeah, let's go steal a rug.
- Right.
What's bothering you, Clell?
Tell me,
why do you want to leave
the Old Guard so badly?
We're just a bunch
of toy soldiers, Sam.
You don't believe in this war,
but if you get your transfer
to Fort Benning,
you'll be part of sending
these boys over.
Yeah.
I guess I should be there
where it really counts.
I just can't watch
one more of those boys.
I guess it's just weakness.
It's not weakness, Clell.
Sam, my, er...
business is a family business.
If a building is burning,
and you can't carry out
all your children,
you damn well do what you can
and cry about it later.
Er... this is for you. It's a oushak.
It's wonderful.
It's pretty.
Would you stand still for a minute?
Goddamn it, please!
Look, Goody,
I've been thinking.
What's the chances
of my platoon
playing aggressor team
this year?
Aggressor team?
The guys that get to play
Charlie in the field
and get to lose to the noble
all-American forces?
That's the ones.
You want to volunteer for the
dipshit detail of the year?
When you push that around
to English, yeah.
- Make me believe it.
- Goody, come on.
I mean, half these kids are gonna
wind up in Nam, and I figure:
if I had 'em for two weeks,
I could show 'em something,
you know?
Okay. Now tell me
the real reason.
That's it, pal.
That's all I got.
Can you swing it?
In a word, no.
Thanks, good dog.
"30 May, 1968. Dearest Rachel,
"still no answer from you.
"You said you were going
to try to forget me.
"Well, I can't forget you,
so I'll keep trying.
"You can't imagine how hard
we worked last week.
"It was utter chaos
in the garden.
"That's what we call
the cemetery.
"Delta Company pulled
20 drops a day.
"That's what we call funerals.
"Sergeant Hazard, who was in as
foul a mood as I've ever seen,
"argued that our workload
proved his point.
"That we'll never
finish them off.
"I told him he should
be grateful
"he's not in North Vietnam's
Honour Guard.
"We disagree on just
about everything
"connected with Vietnam.
"Hazard's girlfriend, Sam,
got arrested for a few hours
"during a march on the
Pentagon last month.
"She's been awfully nice to me,
"but she's giving the Sarge fits.
"He doesn't like
the war very much,
"but he likes these
protesters even less.
"I'm still not sure whether
you're getting any of these letters.
"I'd give anything to hear
from you, Rachel.
"All my love, Jackie."
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Don't turn around now, but...
the best looking gal
I've ever seen
has been staring at you
for like five minutes.
No shit. No shit.
She's at 6 o'clock.
Now turn around real slow.
Knockout broad. Whoo!
Where the hell did she go?
I'm... I'm serious.
Check it out.
Fix your blouse.
Guards, halt!
Ready, face.
Pass on your orders.
Post and orders
remain as directed.
Orders acknowledged.
Ready... hut!
Rachel?
Oh, Jackie.
What are you doing here?
I was just visiting
President Kennedy's grave.
I hadn't seen it yet.
What are you doing
in Washington?
Um, my parents live here now.
My dad's at the Pentagon.
- You too?
- No. I'm at school still.
In Europe.
Germany.
I'm just visiting.
You look great.
Oh, thanks.
Rachel, will you have dinner
with me tonight?
Er...
- I can't, I have a date.
- Break it.
Heh. I don't think
it's such a good idea.
Break the date.
All right.
2218 M Street, Georgetown.
Eight o'clock.
Check.
You are permitted to assist
the public, Sergeant Willow.
You're not, however,
allowed to kidnap anyone,
no matter how great
the temptation.
Sergeant Hazard, I'd...
I'd like you to meet Rachel Feld.
Rachel is an old friend
of mine.
Miss Feld.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Pleased to meet you.
Um, I gotta go.
- Okay.
- See you later.
- 2218?
- Yeah.
Wow. Ha.
Yeah, wow.
Okay, my boy.
Sarge, I need to borrow $50.
- Huh?
- I'll pay you back payday.
Payday?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I need to borrow
your car keys, too.
I'm so happy I dropped by here.
... Vietnam,
to recognise the American people
will no longer allow its leaders
the dubious privilege
of military
and political carte blanche.
Thank you, you look nice also.
You always look nice.
Excuse me.
Oh, er...
Don, this is my friend,
Sergeant Clell Hazard.
Clell, this is Don Brubaker.
Well, well, thank the Lord.
Somebody who can tell me
what this war's all about.
Well, what's the story, General?
Are we winning the war in
Vietnam like Westy says, huh?
We kickin' ass or what?
Don's head of
Attorneys Against the War,
so you better watch out.
I see.
Well, the kill ratio's
about ten to one.
That kickin' ass
enough to keep you happy?
Happy? No.
I couldn't settle
for less than all those
hearts and minds we're
supposed to be winning.
How we doin'?
"We"?
Well, we really don't seem
to be doing much of anything.
We seem to be
too busy drinking
and shootin' our mouths off.
Still America, Sergeant.
And my opinion is we're
slaughtering innocents over there.
Right, left and centre.
Well, you see, opinions,
they're like assholes.
Everyone seems to have one.
- Come on.
- What the hell's the matter with you?
- He has no right to...
- Yes, he does have a right
to talk about Vietnam.
Just one question.
Did you call me
an asshole back there?
Back there?
I don't know, but why don't
you go fuck off anyway.
Listen, I'm not one
of your little Nazi troopers
who has to eat your shit.
So let's move
into the street, pal.
I got a much better idea.
Why don't we just agree that
we don't like one another?
And we can do that right here.
What's fightin' words
these days? Baby killer?
Chicken-shit baby killer?
Whip his ass, soldier.
Clell!
Oh, my!
Clell, no!
Stop him!
Somebody call
an ambulance, please.
You Fascist pig.
Call an ambulance.
Pig.
Hi, Clell.
Hi, Sam.
I just talked
with Don Brubaker.
His jaw is wired,
so he wrote his part down.
He says that he was drunk
and he was an asshole.
No doctor's bills.
No assault charges.
Oh? Why would he say that?
Turns out he's a decent guy.
And decent people
who make a mistake
realise it sooner or later.
Mm-hmm.
Hey.
Come in. I'm sorry.
Um, you sure you didn't have
to persuade him or anything?
Yeah, well,
with his jaw wired and all,
he had to take a rain check.
Oh, I love you so much.
- I know.
- I'm so worried about you.
Oh, Jackie,
I am so glad to see you.
It's nice to see you, Mrs Feld.
You look wonderful.
Oh.
How have you been?
Very well. Very well.
Hello, Jack.
Hello, Colonel.
Well, er...
come in, come in.
Thank you, sir.
Rachel tells me, er... she was
shocked to see you this morning.
Yes, sir. It was quite
a shock for me as well.
Yeah, well, I can imagine it.
Er... you haven't seen
each other in quite a while.
No, sir.
Well, Rachel tells me
you're a sergeant.
Yes, sir.
And that you're with
the Old Guard at Myer.
That's correct, sir.
Well, that's a fine outfit
for the, er...
for the infantry.
Yes, sir.
I imagine you're still working
in electronics
here in Washington, sir.
Oh, my God, yes.
I'm heading up a major research
and development project.
but it's still very hush-hush
at this point.
- I see.
- I tell you, Jack, this, er...
this war is a boon to R&D.
It's a veritable boon.
I'm sure it is.
Hi.
I thought you were, er...
had a date with young, er...
Peterson.
How did you manage to break it?
I find him a very
persuasive young man.
I managed.
Heh.
Night.
Good night, darling.
Shall we?
Bye.
Good night, Sergeant.
Good evening, Colonel.
I see your father
hasn't changed much.
No. He's the same SOB
he always was.
How's your father?
My father died of
a heart attack last month.
Oh, God.
I liked your father very much.
I know you did, Rachel.
He liked you a lot too.
He really did.
Is this the Cabernet?
Yes, sir.
So...
is the Army everything
you'd hoped it would be?
Yes and no. Mostly yes.
I'm still waiting for OCS and
Vietnam, but I'll get them.
I'll get them both.
You want to go to Vietnam?
A soldier in the right place
at the right time
can change the world.
That's too bad.
I'd rather hoped
you'd outgrown that.
Damn you, Rachel.
Let's just make small talk.
There's a lot to catch up on.
No, let's not make small talk.
I don't care how you
like living in Europe.
I don't care how
your friends are.
I don't care if you've read
any good books lately.
It's safe talk, Jack.
To hell with safe.
Do you still feel
anything for me?
Ask me that when you're
a civilian again.
I'm asking you now.
Do you know
my father was afraid
I was gonna marry beneath myself,
and it would ruin his career?
He lied when he said
he'd get you into West Point
if you'd wait to marry me.
Do you know what it means
when a sergeant's son
marries a colonel's daughter?
He had you conned
about West Point.
And you believed him.
That's what broke us up.
You're so gullible.
I loved you so much, Jack.
You made your choice.
Let's...
do you want to leave?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Thanks for the drinks.
No... no problem.
- Yo?
- Sarge, it's Willow.
Oh, great. What is it now?
I mean,
you got all my money,
you have my car.
I suppose now you want to borrow
my dick so you can get laid.
Sarge, you gotta stop hanging
around with the Sergeant Major.
Your language is deteriorating
something awful.
All right, now, the hook, boy.
Just give me the hook.
Well, Sarge. I...
I was wondering if I could...
if I could borrow your apartment
or, er... or Miss Davis',
if one or the other
is available.
Okey-doke.
You take my place.
Look, I'll leave the key right under
the carpet in front of the door.
Thanks, Sarge.
I really appreciate this.
I won't forget it.
I got it.
I just want to talk.
Sure you do, hotshot.
Oh, you're still here.
Yeah.
Sorry, Jack. Just got the call
two minutes ago. Full alert.
- Alert?
- Yeah.
My guess is, er...
we're goin' on manoeuvres.
I'm sorry, Miss Feld.
But it can't be!
Not now! Not tonight!
We were up at 0300 this
morning to put those flags in.
We busted our butts
all day long in the garden.
- We're tired. We...
- Easy, kid.
You can tell it to the chaplain
in a couple of weeks. All right?
I'll bet my bottom dollar
this is Goody Nelson's doing.
What's going on, Jack?
Field exercises.
I gotta talk to Rachel, Sarge.
Five minutes.
Come on in.
We'll be out in five minutes.
I told you that I want
to marry you, Rachel.
No matter what.
You never told me that.
Honey, I did. In all
those letters I sent you.
I...
I didn't open them.
I wanted to forget you.
Rachel, if you want me to
get out of the service, I'll do it.
You've gotta tell me
if there's any hope for me.
I've gotta know.
The last thing
I ever expected was
to see you this morning.
- Saddle up, Jackie. Let's go.
- God, was it only this morning?
- Please...
- Don't shut the door. Please.
Damn it! Come on, boy!
Rachel...
I love you.
Damn!
Come on.
Give me the key.
What? Here.
Red Man Four.
Red Man Four.
Return to Battalion CP at once.
Come home, please.
Return to Battalion CP at once.
Sergeant Hazard,
can you hear me?
Is this thing working?
Red Man Four?
From here on in,
you guys are Charlie.
Glide through this shit,
you don't clomp through it.
Feel the terrain.
Feel it, don't fight it.
Wildman, you can swim,
can't you?
This jungle is not an obstacle.
It's your friend.
Use it. Let it help you.
Love it. Love it
and it will love you back.
Some day you're gonna meet
the real Charlie
and when you do,
something from this little
junior prom may pop
in your mind
and may just save your life.
Ah, shit!
What's this?
Hey... hey, guys.
What's goin' on, man?
They took our stuff.
Charlie's been here!
Come on, get out, man!
Go on! Move in!
I don't know where
the fuck I'm at.
Let's see if this shit works.
That's not north. Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
What was that?
Wildman, this piece of ground
is now wearing your brains.
Frankly, they look better
on the ground.
Tell me something.
Did you ever intentionally
stick your dick out for anything?
I mean, once in your life?
Mouth off to an officer?
Something, huh?
Er... no, sir, Sarge.
That's not my way.
Will that mean I'm not
a real man or...?
You're as real as anybody.
It's just that every man needs
to feel good about himself.
Come along, man.
Over there.
Good work, Jackie.
What is he doing, Goody?
Bucking for a Section 8?
Does he have any idea
the embarrassment
he's caused this battalion?
I'm sure he doesn't, sir.
I've got observers here
watching one platoon of VC
chew our butt for breakfast!
You know what Godwin
just said to me?
He says. "It's not your fault.
It's your ass!"
Well...
We're middle management, Homer.
No, really.
We are the heart
and soul of America.
We keep the wheels turning
while we get ahead,
while we watch our backsides.
Neat trick. Takes up all
of our time.
Clell hasn't ever learned that.
Somebody needs to talk
sincere with the boy.
Somebody needs to pull his
guts out through his asshole!
The problem is, so far nobody
can find him, Goody.
What the fuck is the matter
with you, you psycho fuck?
It's a death wish.
A psycho fuck pullin'
for a court martial.
What makes you God's gift
to infantry training anyway?
There's a guy in that spot
down there in Benning.
You don't even know him.
What makes you the better man?
I just want to do what I can.
Why don't you go
back over there?
Take 'em out on patrol.
Hold their fuckin' heads in your
lap while they bleed to death?
I don't know much,
but I know you,
and you're losing it.
Goody. Goody!
Goody.
Just a few days ago this was
a bunch of half-assed kids.
You gotta see 'em now, Goody.
You gotta see 'em, man.
Give me 24 hours.
24 hours and I'll...
I'll walk into HQ on my own,
and that's a promise.
I promise.
Well, Captain, your problem
is your men are supposed to be
calling in an air strike.
Instead, they're out there
playing cowboys and Indians
with 35 rag-tail aggressors
and they're gettin'
their ass kicked.
Now you've got choppers
all along here.
I want them called
in for an air strike.
- You understand that?
- Yes, sir.
- Wha...?
- Good evening, sir.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Get outta...
Sergeant, pretty funny.
Pretty funny, Sergeant.
I guess I'm supposed
to completely lose it.
Bust you back
about fifteen stripes!
Ship you off someplace
where, of course,
you'll persuade
your new commander
to transfer you
to Fort Benning!
Is that it?
Well, no way, Sergeant.
Uh-uh.
I can't afford to come off
a loser upstairs.
I can't afford
to come off a loser any way!
No, I'm gonna tell 'em that
you're the finest soldier
I ever trained.
And in four brief days,
I, with your help,
showed 'em where to patch up
their outdated programme!
Now, think about that one,
Sergeant!
You got plenty of time
to think about it,
'cause you're gonna be
parading around my post
for the rest
of your fuckin' life!
People love to see
a real war hero on parade.
Left, left, right flank. March.
Left. Watch over that.
Left, right, left.
Hut, two, three, four,
left, right, left.
Left. Come on, Robert.
Relax, Robert.
Left, right, left.
Left flank, march.
- Sarge?
- Yeah.
I gotta talk to you.
Look, kid.
I already got the lecture from Goody,
and he's somebody I ain't sure
I can kick the shit out of,
you understand?
With all respect
to Sergeant Major Goody,
he's full of shit.
Respectfully full of shit.
You put it on the line
for what you believe in.
That's all that counts.
Everything else
is old-guy stuff.
Why Benning, Sarge?
Why Fort Benning?
You know you can train 'em,
and you can train 'em,
and you can train 'em till
you're blue in the face, Sarge.
But once the shit starts
flyin', they're over there.
They're gonna look around
for one guy.
Their platoon sergeant.
That's you.
That's who you were born to be.
You know, I guess I oughta
be real thankful to you
for pointing that out to me.
I... why don't you just face it?
What story you wanna hear?
I got a bunch of stories.
Eh? You wanna hear a story
about a boy I once loved?
Like a son?
Well, here's one.
A boy I never knew.
Until, er...
until he was begging me.
Begging me to stop the pain.
Then he saw the parts that
were no longer inside of him,
and he begged me to push
those parts back inside.
And then the last thing
he begged me
was to find his daughter
some day in Ohio
and tell her
the last thing he thought of
was her dance recital.
She was blonde, his daughter,
and she was five.
And she was real.
Real beautiful
in her dance costume.
Sarge, I...
I don't suppose there's
any guys you saved, huh?
Any of those stories?
It's called compromise, kid.
You do what you can.
Compromise is fine if it works.
Lying to yourself
is still lying.
Listen!
If I knew as much as you do
about life and lying,
what a fellow's born to be,
I guess I'd be
one hell of a man, huh?
Just like you, son.
55 miles to the south,
the Troopers
of the First Cavalry
made their helicopter assault
on the coastal plain.
Ooh!
And from almost
the first moment they landed,
they were in a fight.
The first Cavalry assault
was called Operation Masher.
Here, near a place
called Bong Son,
the enemy chose to...
We're getting married.
Oh! Well, I'm sorry, darling.
I'm afraid I...
I can't let you do that.
Some girls
past the age of consent
would tell their daddies
to go shove it.
All you care about
is the star on your shoulder!
Don't you talk to me like that!
I'll talk to you
however I want... sir!
More!
More!
Beautiful! Beautiful!
Woo! Yeah!
Welcome to the Army, Mrs Willow.
Forward... hut!
Hey, come on.
Let me take your picture.
...same thing.
I remember everything.
Oh, man!
Rachel Feld, Army Digest.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Oh, you look so pretty.
I love your dress.
You were lying. You never told me
you were such a good dancer.
Thank you.
Learned it all in the swamp.
Smile, please!
Ah!
Better do something.
Arr, arr!
A toast, ladies and gentlemen,
to the bride and the groom.
A long and very happy life
together.
Long and happy life!
I'll drink to that.
To my new son.
To the bride and groom.
Here's to us and those like us!
- Damn few left!
- Oh, my God!
Outstanding.
Congratulations.
Ah-huh.
Ride 'em, cowboy!
Smile!
Rachel, thank you.
Thank you.
Don't smoke in bed.
Not tonight.
Thanks, Captain.
Drinks?
Got you something.
All right!
Course you'll
have to earn those bars.
It shouldn't be too tough,
seeing as how
you start OCS
in a couple of weeks.
You see, er...
Goody and I,
we, er...
went to Captain Thomas, and...
Well, we reasoned
with him and...
I ate the bear.
There you go.
Mm-mm!
I don't know why
he wants to go the OCS.
I don't know why... why anybody
wants to be a second lieutenant.
It's the pits!
Commander, keeping low. Requesting...
Roger, this is...
Hold your position
while you cease fire.
This is full. We
got a couple people hit here.
Okay, let's get
that guy on board, huh?
Yeah, Roger that. I'm on ya.
Let's get 'em on and get out.
You know, we can't take
anybody else out here.
Make sure that guy
doesn't get on...
Dear Sarge,
Less than a month to go
and I'll be through
Officer Candidate School.
All anyone talks about
is Vietnam.
All we see and hear about
are the demonstrations.
This war seems to be
tearing us all apart.
The whole country.
Do you and Sam still argue
about it all the time?
Remember she's a civilian,
Sarge.
There's no way for her
to really and truly know
that nobody hates this war
more than those
who have to fight it.
Best, Jackie.
Rooney.
Wildman.
Looks like they shipped you
to the Nam, Wildman.
Tough luck, buddy!
Flanagan.
You too, Flanagan.
Walters.
Oh, shit!
Thatcher.
There goes the war.
Just when we had it in the bag.
Washington.
Hey, Wildman, kill a commie
for Christ, man.
- Hey, cool it!
- I'm gonna kick... hey!
Shh, shh!
- It's the new lieutenant!
- Hey!
- Congratulations!
- Hi!
Hi.
Atten... hut!
I think you're supposed
to return it or something.
As you were.
Well, you look
just like real soldiers to me.
Piece of cake.
- Kid.
- How are ya, Sarge?
Hi, Jackie.
- Hey, how are you?
- Hmm. Congratulations.
Thank you.
Your bars look beautiful, Jackie.
Come on, have some champagne.
Here, honey.
Well...
There's, er...
something I've gotta say.
Speech!
- Speech! Speech!
- It's your night.
I'm shipping out.
Couple of weeks,
you'll be getting all the news
straight from Quang Tin province.
Well, congratulations, son.
Not often the Army gets the
right man in the right spot.
Thank you, Sergeant Major.
You okay with this, Sarge?
Yes, sir.
I'm just sorry
that I'm not going along.
Platoon sergeants never get
a Louie that can lead.
You'll make a lucky guy
an easy gig there.
Born to it, kid.
Born to be.
Well, then,
here's to us, and those like us.
Damn few left.
Well, come on!
- Let's make a party.
- Yeah, let's.
- Come on, y'all.
- To Jackie and Rachel.
They struck two. I got, er...
a para-medevac here
took two rounds in the chest.
Roger that.
The other, he's got
one round in the arm, right arm.
Roger that. What's
gonna be the ETA back to death stop?
This is 12-5,
I'm right behind the death stop.
I'll check out the area
right around here.
Is he clear now
down there? Is it secure?
Roger, we have it.
You seen the latest Army Digest?
No.
Guess who just won the
Congressional Medal of Honour
for actions against the enemy
in Vietnam?
Who's that?
Guess who saved
his buddies' asses?
Who?
Guess who took on a whole army
of bad guys single-handedly?
Who, for Chrissakes, Goody?
Wildman.
Wildman? Heh.
South Vietnam's national police chie f
had killed a man who had been
captured carrying a pistol.
This was taken
as sufficient evidence
that he was
a Vietcong officer.
So the police chief
put a bullet in his brain.
He's still the chief of police.
For days, Cao Lang's streets
were swept by gunfire.
And the people of Cao Lang
were swept back and forth,
bewildered.
Many civilians were caught...
Tell me you're
a lot happier than you look.
If you're gonna lie,
would you do it better?
The year's up, Rache.
You lived through it.
He's coming home
in three weeks.
Bonnie Fowler's man
came home... different.
Apparently,
he'd written her
all these sweet letters
while at the same time
he was writing his mother
he wanted to get a divorce.
And they've got
a two-year-old baby girl.
Men come home crazy,
and broken, and cold.
But that's not my Jackie.
No, it's not.
So, I'm gonna be fine.
Yeah.
Rachel's a great cook, isn't she?
The best.
I told you I called her on the phone.
"Call the restaurant downstairs.
"Send up the beef stroganoff."
Then she messed up the pans.
Are you kidding?
That's flattery.
I'm only kidding, honey.
It was wonderful.
Thank you.
So how's Jackie?
You heard from him lately?
Yeah, I, er...
I got the letter, er...
Honey, would you like to, er...
No. Just read it. You read it.
"Dear Sarge.
"hard to believe
it's only a year.
"Feels like I've lived
my whole life here.
"Ten lifetimes, really.
"Hard to believe
I'll see you so soon.
"Hell, it's hard to believe
you even exist.
"Any of you. Even Rache.
"It's so hard to believe
that she still loves me,
"that there is any
love anywhere.
"Her letters are so beautiful,
"and I want to believe so much.
"I just want to hold her
and hold her.
"Just hold her
and I'll be all right."
I've learned so much, Sarge.
I've learned that I can't
protect these kids.
It's my sworn duty
to protect them and I can't.
There's so many things, Sarge,
to tell you.
All my life I knew I'd...
I'd live and die in the Army.
Just something I knew.
But after this,
I don't know anything any more.
We'll sit down, Sarge.
We'll talk.
You'll get me straight.
Come in!
Sergeant Major, er...
it's Sergeant Hazard, he's, er...
Sam?
- Jackie Willow.
- I know.
Goody called.
He wanted a CIB.
Combat Infantryman's Badge.
That's what he wanted
more than anything.
You know,
most kids his age, they...
they want a promotion
to Vice President of Sales,
bachelor pad,
hi-fi built in.
A fucking sports car,
something!
Not him. A CIB.
I tried to...
I tried to slow him down,
to just make him
less in a lather
to get over there.
I tried to tell him.
Goody... Goody tried to tell him.
We weren't very convincing.
Don't blame yourself, Clell.
And I thought I could do it
from here. If those...
if those bastards
wouldn't let me have Benning,
well, then I'd teach 'em
right here.
Because I'm Sergeant Hazard,
you understand?
I'm the...
boot-tough old vet.
Oh, stop it, Clell.
Yeah, you listen to me, boys,
and I'll pull you through.
What a sorry goddamn excuse
for a man I am.
Don't do this to yourself, Clell.
I can't help it, Sam.
Yeah, but then I thought if...
if I can't help 'em all, then...
what if I just help just one?
If I just take one...
one boy. Just one...
Jackie, just...
Where can you do it, Clell?
If you can't do it here
at this Fort Benning place,
where can you do it?
Could you do it there?
Where?
Don't make me say that place.
Okay, honey, there is as good
a place as any.
That's where it really counts.
I don't want you
to go anywhere.
But it's your decision,
not mine.
What happens to us?
I mean, while I'm on this...
mission of mercy,
you ride off into the sunset
with someone like Don Brubaker.
I don't ride off into the
sunset with anyone, Clell.
I sit here,
in this apartment,
alone and scared to death,
and I wait.
It don't square, though.
I mean, your feelings
about the war.
My feelings about the war
haven't changed a bit.
I'll do everything I can
to stop the war.
I'll march, and I'll carry signs,
and I'll pester Congressmen.
And if you consider that
a knife in the back, so be it.
You've got your job to do.
I've got mine.
There's another question.
Er... if I were to do this,
honey, would...
would you marry me
before I ship out?
Please?
Oh, yes. Yes.
- You would?
- Yes. Oh, yes.
I love you.
I love you too.
Ashes to
ashes and dust to dust.
Let's bury this guy
and get on the bus.
Gotta get out of here.
Shut up!
What are you looking at?
Guidon. Atten... hut!
Rest... hut!
Atten... hut!
Parade, parade, rest!
Here this spot is the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier.
On the stone it says,
"Here rests in honoured glory
an American soldier
known but to God."
They tell me there may be no
unknown soldiers in Vietnam.
It seems we can account
for all their bodies.
We've, er...
gotten a lot better
at identifying them.
I just wonder if we're getting
better at knowing them.
Well, here will rest
deservd of glory,
an American soldier,
known but to an honoured few.
I know him.
I won't forget.
Guidon.
Atten... hut!
Escort!
Ten, hut!
Please stand for the rendering
of military honours, please.
Present, hut!
Firing party,
fire three volleys.
Aim now. Ready.
Ready, aim, fire.
Ready, aim, fire.
Ready, aim, fire.
You may be seated now.
Order, hut!
Colours ready.
Parade, parade, hut!
On behalf of the President
of the United States,
please accept this flag
in recognition
of your loved one's
faithful service.
Left, right, left.
Left. Left, right, left.
Left. Left flank, march.
Left. Dress it up! Dress it up!
Left, right, left.
Left foot, Rothman!
Left. Left flank march.
Take your time.
Come on, guys, gotta pivot
on the ball of both feet.
Pivot on the ball of both feet
and step in a new direction.
Mark with the opposite foot.
You gotta remember that.
Left! Keep it tight. Left.