Surrender - Hell! (1959) - full transcript

♪ Fight for the right to the glory ♪

♪ Fight for the right to be free ♪

♪ Fight for the things
that we hold so dear ♪

♪ And fight for the great victory ♪

♪ Fight for the right to our freedom ♪

♪ Fight for your life, fight along ♪

♪ Fight for the day
when we come home free ♪

♪ And fight for a life filled with song ♪

♪ Down the winding trail ♪

♪ We'll fight on, singing as we go ♪

♪ For we cannot fail ♪



♪ We'll fight on, fight with every bone ♪

♪ Then will come the day of glory ♪

♪ Raise the flags up high ♪

♪ And we will tell the world we'll fight ♪

♪ We'll fight or die ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

(rhythmic snare drum music)

(slow somber music)

- [Don] For more than a thousand years,

man has been plagued by the
terrible pestilence of war.



It was three days after Pearl Harbor.

The last great war came
with surprising suddenness

to the Philippine Islands.

First Manila, then Bataan.

From the skies overhead,

Japanese planes continued
a relentless bombardment,

preparatory to invasion itself.

As the Jap Zeroes rained a
constant hell from the skies,

resistance was weakened.

It was only a matter of time

before they would take the whole island.

Havoc and destruction were everywhere.

12 days later Wake Island
fell to the Japanese,

after an heroic stand by U.S. Marines.

By day and by night, the
dreadful pounding continued,

causing just what the enemy wanted,

confusion and ultimate surrender.

In 10 more days, Japanese
forces occupied Manila,

forcing MacArthur's army
to withdraw to Bataan.

On April 9th, Bataan
Peninsula fell to the Japanese

after an heroic defense by
a greatly outnumbered force.

The 11th Army had been all but
exhausted, too weak to go on.

Straggling holdouts were helpless

against the powerful
onslaught of the enemy.

There seemed no other way than to give up.

If not every man, woman, and child

would be totally annihilated.

By mid-afternoon, the commanding general

had decided to give out
the order to surrender.

The military and civilian prisoners taken

were to start on the infamous death march.

American and Philippine
prisoners taken at Bataan

were forced to march 85 miles in six days,

with but one meal of
rice during the period.

More than 5,000 Americans and
an equal number of Filipinos

had lost their lives.

A pitiful army of civilians,
haggard and worn out

by the terror of war,
carried their belongings

from their homes in a
tragic retreat to safety.

Where they were going, they didn't know.

(gunfire blasting)

This is always the tragedy of war.

The killing of innocence,

the slaughter of women and children.

The remnants of the 11th infantry division

of the American army
was hoping against hope

for some miracle, which would not come.

I held the rank of
lieutenant, and as such,

I was traveling in a beat-up jalopy.

(planes roaring)

(gunfire blasting)

The planes finally left,
but they would be back,

this we all knew.

(daunting music)

- Yes, sir, colonel.

Yes, sir, we'll do that, sir.

Thanks, we'll sure need
it. See you in prison camp.

- What's this about prison camp?

- We're surrendering.

- Surrender? I didn't quite like it.

The word somehow didn't settle with me.

How about it, troops? Let's take off.

- It's too risky man. Better
surrender and save your skin.

- We got it all figured out.

One guy takes his white cloth
and goes out to meet 'em,

while I cover him.

Then if they don't play fair. (hand taps)

- Prison camp, got a hunch
they're not gonna treat us

like visiting fireman.

- [Soldier] You're not coming with us?

- I'll take my chances.

(daunting orchestral music)

(gunfire blasting)

(bombs explode)

The view from the hills
wasn't very pretty.

The ground was littered with bodies.

Those who were alive, kept on running.

I was among them.

And as I made my way up the slopes,

I realized I had two choices.

I could go it alone or be captured.

There was still the safety
of the Philippine terrain,

filled with impassable brush, crags,

places to dig in and live
like an animal if I had to.

I ran on alone, thinking
of only one thing,

to get away, somewhere.

Where? I didn't know.

The one single thought that
burned in my brain was,

"Don't give up, go it alone.

You might get outta
this somehow, some way.

Keep on going. Keep on going."

Automatically, I kept on.

I only knew what I was
doing was a lot better

than what they had in mind for me,

though my future seemed to be
the hill and jungle country.

At least I could walk through it

without a bayonet in my back.

I'd rather go it this way.

I wasn't an animal yet.

It was a strange feeling,
like being the last man alive

on the Earth.

They say that a man's strongest instinct

is the fight for survival.

Brother, I finally found
out what that really meant.

(Don spits)

(Japanese troops chattering)

They were back again.

Would they never stopped hunting me?

(suspenseful music)

(Japanese troops chattering)

(deep suspenseful music)

As I watched them go,

I found myself tired
and dirty, and thirsty.

The new group of fleeing natives

must've felt the way I felt.

They had no idea where
they were going either.

They were just going.

Maybe tomorrow they would
reach the end of the road.

(people chattering)

(suspenseful music)

Sometimes, in a situation like this,

conventions are still maintained.

Even though the rules
of formality are silly,

you abide by them.

I'm Blackburn, Don Blackburn.

- Ah, I'm Delia Guerrero.

I'm trying to get back home.

- Where's home?

- Oh, maybe 50 kilometers north.

- What are you doing so far away?

- My father sent me to stay with my uncle

in Bataan province.

Everybody thought it would be safe there.

One night the Japs bombed my house.

I guess I was no safer at
my uncle's house though.

I was the only one left alive.

- Circumstance brought us together

in a place of common shelter,

and we were both united by
a mutual urge for safety.

I don't know how many
miles or how many hours

we had traveled.

I was beginning to feel tired and faint.

One thing I knew, I
couldn't keep up with her.

I was about to pass out.

(slow somber music)

- What is it?

- I don't know. I gotta rest.

Feel lousy.

I don't know, I'm gettin' cold.

(Don shudders)

- Maybe, maybe it's malaria.

(Don shuddering)

(gentle music)

- [Don] I don't know how long I slept.

I don't remember anything after that.

When I came to, she was still there.

(gentle music)

- Feel better?

- Now I'm weak.

I think I'm gonna live.

(Delia chuckles)

Who's gonna have a party?

- You.

- Oh?

- I found those things
in some burned-out house

down the road.

- How long we been here?

- Oh, 'bout three days.

I have something for you.

Rice soup. Very good.

(gentle music)

- As I watched her pouring the soup,

I couldn't help thinking
about the kindness

that human beings can show to one another.

Why couldn't it be this way for everyone?

Why did God make some people
good and others brutal and bad?

It didn't make sense.

Her arms around me gave me
the first decent feeling

of comfort I had known for a long time.

After awhile I felt strong
enough to walk again,

so I plotted on.

She led the way.

Soon we came to a water pond.

Boy, did I like that.

(Delia laughs)

(Don and Delia laughing)

- Sure feels good to have a bath again.

Doesn't seem possible there's a war on.

(Don and Delia sigh)

I could stay this way for days.

(Japanese soldiers chattering)

Get behind this rock. Come on, hurry up.

(Japanese soldiers
chattering and laughing)

- Hoy!

(soldiers speaking in Japanese)

(Delia sighs)

- Walking through the matted
brush with a strange girl

gave me a new responsibility.

I not only had to look out
for one person, but two.

I rather enjoyed it.

Took my mind off myself.

I was committed by
circumstance to the task

of helping her get home.

Finally, we reached her house.

(gentle music)

(hand banging)

- Delia, oh I'm so glad you're safe, baby.

Mother, Delia's home.

- Delia.

Delia, on my darling. I didn't
know what happened to you.

- [Delia] Don. Don.

(gentle orchestral music)

- American? It is not safe for
you to be here. Come inside.

(gentle orchestral music)

- Her father gave me shelter
in a raised hut in the back.

The bed of straw felt mighty comfortable,

but I couldn't shake off
another attack of malaria.

(gentle orchestral music)

No. No, no. No.

Chill's gone. I must've fallen asleep.

I'm burning up now.

Oh, oh, it's hot.

It's awful hot.

(jeep engine humming)

Delia?

- All right, men. Search the house.

- Delia, can't we move back
from the fire a little bit,

it's too warm.

(soldiers speaking Japanese)

(suspenseful drumming music)
(chicken bawks)

- Hoy.

- It was a week before I felt well enough

to get back on my feet.

Delia was like a nurse to
me all through that time.

These were the innocent victims of war,

yet they still found it in
their hearts to show human pity.

I knew I had to go on
and never see her again.

She expressed it to me simply, sincerely.

- I may never see you again.

- That's a cockeyed thing to say.

Why, this, this war'll be
over before you know it.

(Delia chuckles)

- I hate to say goodbye.

- We won't say goodbye.

(gentle sorrowful music)

And as I walked away, we both realized

we would never see each other again.

That was another tragic side of the war.

You leave behind someone you could love.

Next day her young
brother, Adrian Guerrero,

escorted me to a place where he said

there was a guerrilla camp, led by a girl.

By certain rules of war,
this in itself was unique.

She didn't seem tough,

and yet the whole group
followed her loyally.

I knew they were prepared to die,

if she but gave the command.

I was fascinated as they pushed
through the thick foliage.

I found myself following with
the same degree of loyalty.

The men were inspired by an ideal.

This was the quality this
girl was able to bring out,

the true sign of a leader.

We had reached a Jap encampment.

We surrounded them and
caught them off guard.

I found myself doing
just what the others did.

I was one of them now.

(gunshots blasting)

(adventurous music)

(Japanese soldiers chattering)

(gunfire blasts rapidly)

(bombs explode)

(gunfire blasts)

(somber percussion music)

(bold orchestral music)

- Who are you?

- Who are you?

- My name's Bruno.

- Well, Bruno, we're friends.

- American?

- Mm-hmm.

- Who are you?

I'm an Ifugao, orphan boy.

Welcome to high mountain country.

- Thank you.

We uh, we greatly
appreciate your hospitality.

- I take you to high mountain country.

- That's good. Very good.

- We walk five days.

- Maybe they can find some of
my Filipino buddies up there.

Had a few Ifugao boys in my
battalion, American army.

- I take you there safe.

Then we'll fight Japs.

- Bruno, right now all
I wanna do is hole up

and stay away from the Japs.

- Get you good food.

Get you pretty girl, maybe.

You rest up good.

Then, you fight Japs.

- Good luck, American.

- Good luck, soldier, and thanks.

(dramatic tense music)

- [Bruno] Something is
happening in village.

(crowd chattering)

- I don't see any Japs.

(people chattering)
(dog barks)

Come on, let's go.

(crowd chattering)
(serious music)

- Friends, I have something
important to tell you.

Corregidor has fallen.

Corregidor is taken by the Japs.

(crowd grumbling)

Wainwright is a prisoner.

- What's this? What's this?

- Mr. Mayor, I have
come from the lowlands.

They get news by radio.

Corregidor has been taken by the Japs.

But I'm sure the Americans will come back.

- You are American?

- Yeah.

Yeah, a lieutenant.

Where did you get your information?

- From a priest in the lowlands,
who has a shortwave radio.

He heard the broadcast from Honolulu.

(somber music)

- Then it's true.

The news was quite a shock.

Everything seemed hopeless now.

It meant that 7,000
Americans and an equal number

of Filipinos were
prisoners of the Japanese.

- The war is not lost, lieutenant.

I was with the constabulary, a sergeant.

We our your friends.

- Remember, we are a people
accustomed to sorrow.

We have one American among us

who will help us continue the fight.

Why do you say, lieutenant?

(dramatic music)

- Mr. Mayor?

The news about Corregidor
is a shock to all of us.

I believe we do not push the
lieutenant to answer today.

We all need time to think.

Let the lieutenant get
his feet on the ground.

- What do you say, lieutenant?

- If these simple
peasants and village folk

could find this much
courage in their hearts,

there had to be only one answer.

I translated it next day into action.

All right men, raise your right hand.

I hereby declare you duly sworn
members of the armed forces

of the United States.

And now the induction papers.

(gentle orchestral music)

Just sign on the bottom.

(sighs) Well, I hope the
Army's back by payday.

Otherwise you boys will
have to take an IOU.

- We're not worried.

- That's good.

(sighs) You know, this
place isn't going to be safe

until we get some kind
of a, a warning system.

- How 'bout the telephone line?

- Telephone line?

- Sure, Gamma put in the
lumber company phone system

to the logging stations.

- Well that's great. Let's
get going. What about wire?

- We can use barbed wire.

- Barbed wire, for a telephone system?

- Sure, it will work.

Don't worry.

- Okay, Francisco.

You and Gamma take off right now.

I wanna make this place
safe, as fast as possible.

Cagayan Village had a sari-sari,

or the equivalent of a
small town grocery store

where the Japanese soldiers would come in

and help themselves to supplies
without paying for them.

Helplessly, the store owner,
Diaz, and his wife watched,

saddened by the new state of life

under the forces of occupation.

The Japs had just driven
away in their trucks

when Bruno and I got there.

(gentle orchestral music)

- This is Mr. and Mrs. Diaz.

- As you know, I'm forming
a small guerrilla unit.

Men from this town, mostly,
and we're going to need food.

- It is always trouble.

Ever since the Japanese
came, nothing but trouble.

- Oh well, we'll pay.

The U.S. Army'll pay as soon as--

- They will find out, the Japs.

They will punish us.

- Now, wait a minute.
You people want help.

Well now, that works both ways.

- Please, don't misunderstand my husband.

It is not really safe.

And, he's afraid.

But, we are your friends. We will help.

- Good. We'll pay double
because of the risk.

Give us 50 pesos worth
of rice and groceries.

Here's an Army IOU for a hundred pesos.

You can take my word for it.

The American Army'll make it good in cash.

(gentle music)

So now we had a food. It was a beginning.

The task of stringing a
makeshift communication line

therefore proceeded on schedule.

Nice going men. Where's Gamma?

- That tree there.

- Thank you.

(suspenseful music)

War brings out treachery in some people.

Here, it was no different.

- Hi. I want to see the sergeant.

- Over there.

- Thank you.

(man speaks Japanese)

I saw some guerrilla
putting up telephone wires

with the American.

- Oh, where?

- You pay me, I show you.

(gunshots blasting)

(man speaking Japanese)

(gunshots blasting)

- [Don] He had been paid
for his work, by them.

- Sir. Here are three servicemen.

More volunteers are on the way.

- Good.

- Conrado Bulumba, sir.

23rd company, Philippine Constabulary.

- Luiz Vinyon, first
regular battle division,

Philippine Army, sir.

- Arthur Joseph Giocho, 45th
calvary, Philippine scout,

United States Army.

- Gentlemen, I can't begin
to you how pleased I am.

- Sir, these are the
volunteers from the village.

- Girls? What's the idea of having girls?

- Girls can often spy on
the enemy, us men cannot.

- Welcome. You all know what
happened yesterday afternoon.

I thought that would
kill the spirit of those

who wanted to help us.

I see now I was wrong.

This outfit will be run according

to the United States Army regulation.

(woman yelling in foreign language)

(man and woman yelling
in foreign language)

- You the American? What
are you tying to do?

We have enough trouble with the Japs,

and now you come and bring more trouble.

- Who are you?

- Because of you and your
greediness, my brother's dead.

You sent him to work
on the telephone lines.

If you didn't come, he would be alive now.

I hate you. I hate you!

Stop it.
(hand slaps)

- It's the Japs we have
to fight, not each other.

(fist thuds)

- Knock it off.

- Leave me alone.

- Simmer down!

Simmer down.

Now listen.

About your brother, I'm sorry. Very sorry.

But it's a risk you take.

See these people?

They're all volunteers,

come here to be organized as guerrillas.

Every one of 'em is taking a risk.

And it's for sure that
some of them will die.

Now just simmer down.

I'll ask the priest to take you home.

- I have no home. I had
no one except my brother.

(gentle somber music)

You have girls in your group?

- Yeah. A few, they'll spy on the Japs.

- Then I'll join you.

I'll be your best spy.

I can do anything a soldier
can do anything, anything.

- Hey, soldier.

Soldier.

Douse me with a bucket of water, will ya?

(curious music)

Come on, come on. You can do anything.

(whimsical music)

Now, start gently, and
I'll turn around, huh?

Right here.

(curious music)

(Don chuckles)

(Pilar laughs)

(curious music)

(sighs) Best meal I've had in a long time.

The only thing missing
was a pastrami sandwich.

- What is pastrami?

- Well, actually it's a, a corned beef

that's been sent to
Mexico for a hot plate.

(Pilar laughs)

- You're making fun of me.

- No.

- You know what, Don?

- What?

- I've been watching you.

- Oh?

- You're a man of many moods.

Sometimes stern, detached.

Sometimes idealistic,
concerned with humanity.

And then again, you're also happy-go-lucky

like a school boy playing hooky.

- That's what I'm doing
right now, playing hooky.

This is the first picnic I've been on

since my fraternity days in Tampa.

Imagine a picnic, smack
in the middle of a war.

(both laugh)

- It's not safe.

But who wants to be safe?

A thrill, an escapade, that is
what makes life worth living.

- You know, I, I never met a girl who--

- Only today is for sure.

Tomorrow is a question mark.

I live for the hour, the moment.

It may be 10 o'clock, and by 11 o'clock,

we may be living in another world.

We may even be captured.

So, let's live for this moment.

(gentle music)

- There was something so
appealing and beautiful

about this girl, so fresh and lovely.

When I held her in my arms, I
realized she was just a child.

All of the horror of the past
seemed suddenly forgotten.

There was no war any longer.

The world was a bright and happy place.

There was love in the world again,

and I had found it.

(gentle orchestral music)

(Japanese soldiers chattering)

Looks like they mean business this time.

(Japanese soldiers chattering)

(soldier yells)

(deep somber music)

That's a job for the
demolition boys. Come on.

(bold orchestral music)

(bird squawking)

You all right?

- I'm not afraid.

- Good luck.

Quickly, we had formed a plan.

She would serve as a decoy,

allowing herself to
distract the Jap sentries

while my men desperately
worked at the bridge below,

setting their charges of dynamite.

It was a ticklish operation,

and as I got back in my boat,

I couldn't help thinking about her safety,

and whether or not the Japs would play it

the way I hoped they would,

or whether they would find her
out and shoot her as a spy.

(men speaking in Japanese)

(bird bawking)

(tense suspenseful music)

(men speaking in Japanese)

- My home, my home.

(man speaks Japanese)

(bird bawking)

(soldier yelling)

(tense adventurous music)

(soldier speaks Japanese)

(suspenseful music)

(Pilar crying)

(soldiers speak Japanese)

(slow somber music)

- Oh, you eat fish. Nice
fish, okay? (laughs)

Beautiful, huh? (speaks Japanese)

(soldier laughs)

(tense suspenseful music)

(soldier laughs)

(tense suspenseful music)

(soldiers speak Japanese)

(tense suspenseful music)

(deep mysterious music)

(dynamite explodes)

- The Japs were quick to take revenge.

For the work of a few, all must die.

The order was given, "Burn
down the nearest village.

Spare no one."

(bombs exploding)

(gunfire blasting)

(adventurous orchestral music)

Get these people outta
here. Get 'em outta here.

(guerrillas talking excitedly)

(gentle somber music)

(guerrillas talking excitedly)

(baby cries)

(man prays quietly)

Pilar, take the baby over there, quick.

(Pilar crying)

(men yelling)

They were innocent, every one of them.

Men, women,

youngsters, babies.

Not one of them helped
to destroy the bridge.

And yet they died.

I've got something to tell you.

When I first came here,

my only thought was to hole
up and save my own neck.

Gradually you people gathered
around, looking for leadership

and an organization
with which to fight back

at the Japanese.

I accepted that responsibility,

but, truthfully, in a
half-hearted sort of way.

Right or wrong, that's the
way it was, until tonight.

But not anymore.

Emilio, Hiocho, Bulanbon, Duna.

You're now lieutenants in
the Army of the United States

and the Commonwealth of the Philippines,

and you will each recruit
a company of 150 men.

- Yes, sir, captain.

- Captain? I didn't say I was assuming--

- But, sir, if we are all lieutenants...

(crowd cheers)

- We were gathering strength,
but so were the Japs.

They began using every manner of reprisal

in a grim attempt to
stop us in our tracks.

The captain of the
Japanese occupation forces

went from village to village
in an effort to run us down.

The natives were truly
living in a state of terror.

(deep somber music)

(soldier yells in Japanese)

(deep somber music)

- Oh hi, Okazamus.

- Any citizen who hides an American,

or gives food to, to American,

will be executed. (laughs)

And mayor of town will be punished.

Exactly how, I leave to
your esteemed imagination.

- Yes, sir, yes, major,
I'll, I'll do everything.

- 'Cause uh, I have news
about an American officer

organizing guerrilla force
somewhere in this area.

Do you know about this? Huh?

- No. No, sir.

- You must investigate.
It is supreme command.

- Yes. Yes, major, I will.

(chaotic orchestral music)

(soldiers speaking Japanese)

(daunting orchestral music)

- Well, what is it?

- I hope the captain will
understand, we are your friends.

- Well?

- There can be no more rice.

Only this. We are afraid.

- The Japanese companies,
they've caught on.

They think we help you and feed you.

So your camp will be found.
Many of the villagers will die.

Please, captain, try to understand.

Send all your men home,
captain. This is your last day.

So you can be safe as a
war prisoner, surrender.

- How do you expect ever
to regain your freedom?

You, and you?

And most of all, Mr. Mayor, you.

All right, boys, we'll
leave this area tonight.

Pass the word to the men.

Give 'em their choice to

go with us or stay here.

Bruno.

Bruno, you'll have to go ahead

and try to find a friendly village,

where the mayor and his
people are not afraid, hm.

(gentle somber music)

Little Bruno had told me about the village

of the headhunters high
in the mountain country.

The idea seemed a crazy one at first,

but the others persuaded
me to take a look.

In war, you learn to try anything,

even plans that at first
might seem impractical.

(bell clanging)

- Captain Blackburn,
this is Chief Timickpao.

- Welcome to my village.

- Thank you very much.

- We are having a big canoua for you.

Please follow me.

(gentle wooden flute music)

(crowd chattering happily)

(hands clap)
(drumming music)

(Timickpao speaks foreign language)

(indigenous drumming music)

- I would like to give this
to you, a Jap pole, sir.

(indigenous drumming music)

This on the surface is a
very stubborn man right here.

But he's a very nice guy now.

(indigenous drumming music)

- The welcoming festivities continued

for several more hours.

Then Chief Timickpao ordered his tribesmen

to build barracks out of nipa palm,

to house the new army of the headhunters.

I was convinced the chief meant business.

Every one of the tribe pitched
in, young and old alike.

Your men work fast.

- We are not lazy. Work
good, fight good too.

One headhunter is better than
10 Japs, you wait and see.

- [Don] News of my alliance
with the headhunters

filtered back to Japanese high command,

who increased the size of the reward

and made preparations to use
sterner measures against us.

- They make more mistakes.

I hate the Japanese.

I'll send posters to all the villages

to inform that I, Timickpao,
chief of the headhunters

will make plans.

I will take your heads before
you've spent your money.

- You're a real friend.

We now knew there was no going back.

The word of the headhunter
chief would never be broken.

With full speed ahead, the
training program began.

My guerrilla lieutenants and I

started teaching the
tribesmen drill methods

according to the U.S. Army standards.

They obviously enjoyed the cadence count,

but not as much as I.

We were building a miniature army,

taking people from the past
and teaching them to use

the techniques of the present.

It was a thrilling experience all around.

- [Troops] One, two, three, four.

- [Leader] Hut. Hut.

- [Troops] One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

One, two--

- Hey, boss, boss, many men are coming.

(patriotic orchestral music)

- Captain Blackburn, you'll
have two headhunter teams.

These are Inoya, and that is my own.

Good fighters too, but
not as good as Timickpao.

- Some here now, some
come later. Maybe 200.

- Good.

Your men are accepted as
soldiers in the American Army.

- I bring men too. More will come later.

Maybe 300 good fighters.

- All headhunters are good fighters.

And every headhunter
is welcome to join up.

Kamiong, our camp at your
village'll be camp two,

and yours, Inoya, will be camp three.

- Come to my village tonight.

I'll have a big canoua,
many dancing girls.

(rhythmic drumming music)

(crowd laughs)

(rhythmic drumming music)

(crowd cheers)

(rhythmic drumming music)

(crowd cheers)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(gunshots blasting)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(bomb explodes)

(gunshots blasting)

(bombs explode)

(dramatic orchestral music)

- [Russ] This is Camp
Victor calling Tobuyin.

This is Camp Victor calling
Tobuyin. Come in Tobuyin.

- This is Tobuyin, you read me?

- [Russ] Hiya, Don, is that you for sure?

- Russ, Russ, you old son
of a gun, sure it's me.

What's the good word?

- [Russ] Not much, Don.

By the way, how's your
guerrilla army coming along?

- Getting quite a few men and weapons.

We've got three camps and more on the way.

These headhunters are great fighters.

- [Russ] Well, it's a good thing they are.

I made contact with a Navy ship last week.

MacArthur sent orders.

Do everything possible to
capture north shore of Luzon.

Now that means the Jap
stronghold on Aparri.

I've got my hands full
here on the West Coast.

So the Aparri job falls to you.

- Aparri?

Hey Russ, do you realize
that's something like

a hundred miles north of here?

And half of that's flat land.

- [Russ] But y'all give it
a go. That's the spirit.

Now many of your men served in
11th infantry before the war.

So you're authorized to
reactivate the regiment.

Good luck, and keep me posted.

- Russ? Hey, Russ?

Camp Victor, come in, Camp Victor.

(radio whirring and buzzing)

- So we are the 11th
infantry again, officially.

- Well, let's get busy.
You've got lots of work to do.

- Next day, we made our
plans to take Aparri

in Northern Luzon.

It should have been called
assignment impossible.

The Japs would have us
outnumbered 10 to one.

- Let's go.

- Let's go.

(determined music)

- Take good care of her now, Bruno.

- Okay, boss.

We'll find out all about Japs.

We meet you this side of
field, two days from now.

Maybe sundown. Okay?

- Okay.

Bruno, 10-hut.

About face.

(gentle orchestral music)

Take care of yourself.

Down the winding mountain
trail came my hastily-organized

guerrilla army, badly outnumbered,

lacking in proper equipment.

But they had one thing in their
favor, a fierce will to win.

They were fighting for a cause,

to protect their homes from an invader.

Sometimes it's tough to
tell that to bullets,

but they were willing to
put their lives on the line.

No one complained.

They knew they had a job to do,

and they were going to do
it the best they knew how.

♪ Down the winding trail ♪

♪ We'll fight on, singing as we go ♪

♪ For we cannot fail ♪

♪ We'll fight on, fight with every bone ♪

♪ Then will come the day of glory ♪

♪ Raise the flags up high ♪

♪ And we will tell the world we'll fight ♪

♪ We'll fight or die ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

♪ We will win ♪

- (sighs) Not much
concealment from here on.

- Mm, flat country not
good for headhunters.

- Well, it's about 20
kilometers to the woods

this side of the Cagayan River.

(sighs) We better camp
here till nightfall.

(deep somber music)

As I surveyed the forces under my command,

I felt a pardonable pride,

and I wondered how the
U.S. Army brass would react

when they found out I
had enlisted headhunters

into the U.S. Army.

To the west, I suddenly sighted
a group of reinforcements

sent by Roy Russell.

They were under the
command of Major Bulao,

and I was surprised to
see a pretty good supply

of artillery, much more than I expected.

(somber music)

- Major Eulogio Bulao reporting, sir.

We would you like to join forces with you.

- Very glad to see you, major.

And I've heard that you have
a very well-trained outfit.

- This is Captain Cabrera.

- Glad to meet you.
- I am glad to meet you.

- Lieutenant Zanders.
- Thank you.

- Lieutenant Domingo.
- Lieutenant.

- [Domingo] I am glad to meet you, sir.

- We need officers and men very badly.

We've been assigned a
tough objective to take,

and we can't take it unless
we multiply our forces.

- That means, Aparri.

- Yeah, that's right.

After a short rest, we pushed on.

Halfway to Aparri, there was a garrison

we would have to wipe out.

This we well knew.

I would have to organize my strategy

as soon as we got a look at the terrain.

(slow somber music)

- All right, men, gather around here.

(slow somber music)

10-hut.

- Major Bulao has something to say to you.

- Men, we are going to take Aparri.

It will go down in history
that the 11th infantry,

an army of Filipinos, took
part of Northern Luzon

back from the Japs.

It will go down in the
memories of your children,

and grandchildren, that you
took part in the battles

that broke the Japanese.

We have trained and toughened
ourselves in smaller battles.

We have captured thousands of rivals.

At last, we're ready now.

God be with you.

- Two months ago, I promised
you that we would take Aparri.

Now I'm ready to keep that promise.

So, on to Aparri, men, and good luck.

(troops shouting)

When I left Pilar and little Bruno behind,

it was with a specific plan,

that they would perform a scouting mission

behind the Jap lines.

This they proceeded to carry out.

But I didn't know at the time

that they would run into some bad luck.

(tense suspenseful music)

(Pilar yells)
- I got you.

(adventurous music)

- [Soldier] Wait. Come back here!

(Pilar yelling)

(adventurous music)

(gunshots blasting)

(gun cocks)

(gunshots blasting)
(adventurous music)

(daunting orchestral music)

(melodic singing in foreign language)

- We're ready to cross the
river before dawn, major.

Big fight ahead. You
better get some sleep.

- Well, it doesn't look good.

Pilar and Bruno are long overdue.

No intelligence report, we can't attack.

Might walk into a trap.

- [Pilar] Don!

(gentle sorrowful music)

(Pilar breathes heavily)

- What is it?

What is it? What happened?

- Bruno dead. Japs coming
across the river, at dawn.

- Bruno's dead?

Did they get any information
out of you or him?

- Oh no.

- Better get some rest while you can.

Rest of story later.
Bulao, take her to my tent.

All right, boys, we break camp now.

- Break up!
(men yelling)

(gentle somber music)

(Pilar crying)

(gentle somber music)

- Bruno. What happened?

- They would have caught
me if he hadn't (crying).

- There, there. We won't
talk about that now.

(Pilar crying)

No more time for crying today.

The boy's got a little fight on his hands.

- Thanks for everything, Don.

For giving me a home. A chance
to revenge against Japs.

And some of your love.

- Cheer up, Pilar. This
isn't the end of the world.

People come through this,
like everything else.

- But I, I must go back to Aparri.

Time is running out. I must
leave for Aparri. I must.

- Okay. If that's the way you feel.

But, be careful.

(gentle somber music)

Good luck.

- Yes, sir.

(Don chuckles)

Don.

- What?

(gentle music)

- Goodbye. Goodbye, Don.

- [Don] The Jap headquarters in Aparri

was making ready for us.

They weren't gonna be caught napping.

- Well look here.

The 11th infantry guerrillas
have taken many provinces

from Japanese.

So, imperial high command has sent me,

to exterminate these guerrillas.

So,

now we start campaign

to take back North Luzon.

And if we do not succeed,

every officer of this
command will be disgraced,

and must commit harakiri.

- [Don] Since the report
indicated that the Japanese

were about to cross the
river and ambush us,

our plan was to take them by surprise.

Pilar, in the meantime, had
infiltrated behind their lines

in order to give us vital information.

(deep scary music)

(soldiers speak Japanese)

(tense somber music)

As the Japs made for their boats,

our guerrillas were lying
in ambush, waiting for them.

Slowly, they crept up.

Pilar acted as our
lookout during the start

of the operation.

(Pilar screams)

(adventurous orchestral music)

(soldier speaks Japanese)

- Come on, you!

(soldiers talking indistinctly)

(mysterious music)

- [Guerrilla] Good to go, captain.

(tense suspenseful music)

- We hold fire until
they're 50 yards away.

I fire the first shot.

- Yes, sir.

(deep somber music)

- 50 yards.

Hold your fire.

Wait for Blackburn's signal.

- 50 yards. Hold your fire.

Boss gives the signal.

(deep tense music)

(tense adventurous music)

(gunshots blasting)

(bold triumphant orchestral music)

(cannons blasting)

- Okay, boys, I'll go
over it one more time.

We're here, the river, Aparri.

Major Bulao, your Howitzer will
shell the center of Aparri,

Jap headquarters, it's that white tower.

Timickpao, you and your
headhunters will cross the river

above and below the town.

The remaining forces will
cross the river in Bangus,

for a direct assault.

You uh, give us two minutes,

then about 10 minutes on the barrage.

- Okay.

- That's it.

Are there any questions?

- No, sir.
- No questions, sir.

- All right, let's take
off. And good luck.

- Okay.

- Major Blackburn, the girl,
Pilar, is she not an Aparri?

(gentle strings music)

- Yes, I believe she is.

- Yet have given orders to shred the town.

(gentle strings music)

- Father that's, that's a matter

of the deepest concern to me,

but I have no choice.

(gentle music)

(Japanese men talking excitedly)

(dramatic music)

(Pilar cries out)

- You are a spy.

Do you know what is the fate of a spy?

It is death.

But, you will also find me a kind man,

if you do not lie to me.

I do not try to mistreat
a woman, even a spy woman.

How many guerrillas are
in Blackburn's army?

- I don't know.

- You know. You know!

Where is Blackburn now?

(Pilar spits)

(men talking excitedly)

You're dead!

(cannons blasting)
(bold orchestral music)

(missiles whistling)

(dramatic music)

(gunshots blasting)
(bold orchestral music)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(cannons blasting)

(adventurous orchestral music)

(men clamoring)

(grenade explodes)

(adventurous orchestral music)

(men clamoring)

(adventurous orchestral music)

(grenade explodes)

(bold orchestral music)

(gunshots blasting)

(Japanese soldiers chattering)

- Come on!

All right, Japanese, get lined up.

Hurry up, Japanese.

Hurry up. Move.

Move, Japanese. Move, move.

(daunting orchestral music)

- [Pilar] Don. (groans)

(gentle sorrowful music)

- Pilar.

Pilar.

(gentle sorrowful music)

As I lifted Pilar in my arms,

I realized that victory have
brought me a personal sorrow.

She had asked for nothing.

She had given all she had
for the sake of her people.

And as I carried her lifeless body

out past the ruins of the town,

I felt I was holding a whole
nation of people in my arms.

She was the heart and
soul of all the others

who had likewise given
their lives for freedom.

If ever the history of this
part of the war was written,

she would get a special
chapter for herself.

(dramatic orchestral music)

Sir, Major Donald Blackburn,

reporting to the commanding
general as ordered.

- Major Blackburn, it is
my pleasure to inform you

that you have been promoted

to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Congratulations.

- Thank you.

- You are directed now
to relinquish you command

to Major Bulao.

- Yes, sir.

Major Eulogio Bulao.

Take command of the troops,

as a nucleus for the new Philippine army.

- Yes, sir.

At ease.

- When I first came to the Philippines,

I knew little about the people.

But as one in Filipino
after another saved my life

at the risk of his own, I
learned to love another people,

another race.

There can be no people on the
Earth as friendly and loyal

to America, no people more ready to defend

justice and freedom that we believe in.

This truly is then my second home.

Goodbye.

And thank you, from
the bottom of my heart.

- Battalion, 10-hut.

Present, hut.

(patriotic orchestral music)
(crowd cheering)

(bold dramatic orchestral music)