JAG (1995–2005): Season 2, Episode 11 - Force Recon - full transcript
Two Marines in a recon team sustain injuries from explosions during a training exercise. Mac and Bud investigate whether the company commander, a mustang captain, has placed his men at undue risk. By the initiative of the admiral, Harm goes undercover as a gunnery sergeant. A third Marine becomes injured during another live-fire exercise. The captain acknowledges his actions and explains his reasons.
According to my map,
the safety area extends
as far as that wash
on the other side
of that bridge.
Position your team in the wash,
we'll target the tank,
and we'll knock down the bad
guys with Close Air Support.
Aye, sir.
We've got a target to paint
from the other
side of the bridge.
Move out!
Reaper. This is Red Dog One.
I've got a fire mission for you.
I've got a tank with
a laser designation.
Take it out with the Maverick.
Then sanitize the area.
REAPER: Roger, Red
Dog. You paint it, we'll it hit.
Are you sure we're supposed to
get this close to the tank, Gunny?
We can paint it from
here. GUNNY: No.
We paint it from where
the Captain says we paint it.
This side of the bridge.
Red Dog One. Red Dog
Five. We're in position.
Paint it, Gunny.
Roger that, sir. Let's do it.
(BEEPING)
Duck!
PILOT: Reaper Leader
to sections two and three.
Target area is all yours.
(JET APPROACHING)
Duck!
(MEN SHOUTING)
Bell!
KRYCHUCK: Bell, get back here!
(EXPLOSION)
Get down!
NARRATOR: Following in his
father's footsteps as a naval aviator,
Lieutenant Commander
Harmon Rabb, Junior,
suffered a crash while landing his
Tomcat on a storm-tossed carrier at sea.
Diagnosed with night blindness,
Harm transferred to the Navy's
Judge Advocate General Corps,
which investigates, defends
and prosecutes the law of the sea.
There, with fellow JAG
lawyer Major Sarah MacKenzie,
he now fights in and
out of the courtroom
with the same daring and tenacity
that made him a Top Gun in the air.
(MEN CHATTERING)
BUD: Major, the file
you're looking for is...
MAC: I know where it is, Bud.
Uh, yes, ma'am.
But it's already...
0939 and the flight
doesn't leave till 1100.
We have plenty
of time. So relax!
You are so nervous. Yes, ma'am.
It's just that I'm trying to
point out that the file you...
There it is. For heaven's sake,
Bud, it was right in front of you.
Yes, ma'am.
How about that?
(PHONE RINGING)
It's 0940. We've
got plenty of time.
HARM: Did I say anything?
It's the thought that counts.
You were about to tell me
that I'm late for my flight.
Now you and Bud call if you
need any help with your case.
You call if you
need help with yours.
Oh, I've got mine aced.
You guys have your
work cut out for you.
Why is that, sir?
Recon Marines are
trained to be a tight group.
They won't like the idea of
talking about one of their own.
And this Captain Koonan's
got quite a reputation.
For what, ma'am?
For eating JAG
officers for lunch.
(GRUNTING)
Seriously, Koonan is one
tough, old-fashioned Marine.
His nickname is "The Duke."
As in John Wayne.
You're kidding.
You know what bothers me, Harm?
Captain Koonan is a legend.
Came up through the ranks.
More medals than
his chest can hold.
Spent nearly his entire
career with Recon units.
I mean, he designed the
Recon training program.
Well, actually, he designed
the Close Quarter Battle section.
So how does an officer
with that much experience
put his men's lives at
risk in a training exercise?
(ELEVATOR BELL
DINGS) It's a good question.
Thanks for the help.
Miss me already, don't you?
Yes, sir.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
Sergeant Major Sauer!
(DOG BARKING)
Sergeant Major?
(KNOCKING)
SAUER: You will address
me as "sir," Recruit.
Do you understand?
I'm Commander...
Do you understand?
Yes, sir!
(ALL CHUCKLING)
Because you are one of the
most miserable specimens
I have ever seen!
There is no way in hell I am
gonna be able to square away
what God has so
badly screwed up!
There is not enough time,
unless you pay attention
to every word I say.
Do you understand?
Yes, sir. Good.
Then repeat back
what I have just told you.
Every word?
Are you making a joke, Recruit?
No, sir!
It's a pleasure to have you
here, Major. You too, Lieutenant.
I asked for a Marine to
head up this investigation
and, by God, the
Admiral came through.
And a lady to boot. Outstanding.
Admiral Chegwidden didn't tell
me you'd requested a Marine, sir.
It's the only way to do
this investigation properly.
The Marine Corps
has to discipline itself.
Not that we don't appreciate the
help from the Navy, Lieutenant.
It's a new Marine Corps, Major.
We have new equipment, a
new demographic, new methods.
Our training requirements
have to reflect these changes.
We can't think like dinosaurs
in an old John Wayne movie.
Those days are gone.
It's fine to be tough.
It's not fine to get your
men hurt in training.
No, sir. It is not.
Captain Koonan's map.
He says the safety
line was smudged.
That's why his men were
outside the safety area.
You don't believe him, Colonel?
I didn't say that, Major.
Captain Koonan
is a friend of mine.
Now, it would hurt to learn that he
was responsible for what happened.
But it would hurt more if his
leadership reflected badly on the Corps.
Find out what happened
to my Marines, Major.
Yes, sir. Lieutenant.
Well, the target quadrant's
smudged, all right.
Obliterated is more like it.
Well, isn't this the "Danger
Close" boundary here, ma'am?
It doesn't look like it
includes that little road there.
Could be.
Or this could be a line here.
And that does include the road.
Well, if that is
the safety area,
then Captain Koonan
was within his rights.
If not, he put his men at risk.
Putting your men unnecessarily
at risk during a training exercise
or at any time is unacceptable.
(PANTING)
SAUER: You have made
no progress, Recruit!
But luck is with you.
Because I am gonna give you
another opportunity to prove to me
that you are not gonna get
the rest of your team killed
because of your
ineptitude or incompetence.
Assume the position, Recruit.
Begin.
Not bad.
(CHEERING AND WHISTLING)
For the Navy.
(ALL LAUGHING)
(WHISTLE BLOWING)
(GRUNTING)
MAN: Miller! Allard!
Come on.
(GRUNTING)
Very impressive, Captain.
An ordinary Marine
is impressive, Major.
A Recon Marine
must be exceptional
or he will die.
They are expected to
implant sensors and beacons,
capture prisoners, call
and adjust supporting arms,
conduct raids, and
rescue hostages.
(MAN YELLING) Isn't
that right, First Sergeant?
You just told them
the easy part, Skipper.
Sergeant Tesla!
(GRUNTING)
(WHISTLE BLOWING)
Sergeant Tesla
reporting as ordered, sir!
Curve your hand, Sergeant.
The object is to
incapacitate your enemy
by digging your fingers into the
pressure points on his neck, here.
Grab, pull, chop.
(GRUNTS)
Well, he knows his Close Combat.
Hmm?
If you need more than two
blows to kill your enemy,
your chances of dying
increase 60 percent.
Get it right, son.
I will, sir.
Back to it.
Aye, aye, sir!
Everything I had to
say about the accident
is down in black and
white in my statement.
We've read your
statement, Captain.
Then how can I help you, Major?
How many times have you
been on the training range
where the accident took place?
Once.
Just once?
I was not familiar
with the terrain,
if that is your question.
It was a new exercise.
Will that be all, ma'am?
We'd like permission to interview the
Recon Members who were involved.
(SIGHS)
My men are participating in
a live-fire graduation exercise.
If they do not receive a high grade,
they will not become Force Recon.
Reveille is at 0430.
First class, 0600.
Can you conduct your
interviews by then?
If it's not too early, ma'am.
I usually have lunch
by then, Captain.
You can use my office in the
Squad Bay for your interviews.
Will that be all, Major?
Because if it is...
How are the injured men doing?
For the record, Major,
I visit Gunny Krychuck
and Corporal Bell daily.
Also for the record,
I'm very sorry that
Corporal Bell was wounded.
But I am damn glad
that it happened now.
Recon Marines cannot
afford to give in to fear
the way that Corporal Bell did.
The fate of an entire division
depends on how well
these men react under fire.
Exercises like this are designed
to weed people like Bell out.
Then you succeeded, Captain.
If you'll excuse me,
Major, Lieutenant,
my Marines need some hot
chow and a trip to the rain room.
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
Recon! Attention!
Who are you?
ALL: We are the best,
sir! Recon! Ooh-rah!
You're damned right you are.
Dismissed!
ALL: Aye, aye, sir!
(WHOOPING)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Enter.
Major MacKenzie.
Lieutenant Roberts.
This is Sergeant
Krychuck's replacement,
Gunnery Sergeant Post.
(MAN CALLING OUT)
It's good to see you
again, Gunny Post.
Yes, ma'am.
You two served together?
Yes, sir. Bosnia.
2-9, right, Gunny?
2-9, ma'am.
MALCOLM: It's a good outfit.
Let's see, the CO was, uh...
Captain Walls, sir.
Walls, of course.
Who could forget Gonzo Walls.
Well, you two probably
have some catching up to do.
Yes, sir. We certainly do.
No one is to be treated
with kid gloves, Guns.
But the days of
breaking down a man
and building him back
up into a Marine are gone.
Understood, sir.
Dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
One more thing, Gunny.
Sir?
If anyone, enlisted
or commissioned,
doesn't conform to the
way that I want things done,
I expect you to
tell me about it.
That's an order.
Sir!
(DOOR OPENS)
HARM: That was
not very smart, Major.
MAC: As smart as
not telling your partner
you're undercover on the same
case she's working on, Commander?
Sir, ma'am, I don't think this
is a great spot to discuss this.
At ease, Bud. At ease.
How the hell was I supposed to
know who the CO of Force Recon was?
How the hell was I supposed
to know you were coming?
The Admiral thought
it would be best
if we had someone
working from the inside, too.
Getting information from a Recon
Marine is like getting blood from a stone.
Harm, I'm your partner.
Well, maybe the Admiral's developing
a sense of humor. I don't know.
Don't blame it on the
Admiral. You did it on purpose.
Sir, ma'am?
Bud. What?
With all due respect, I
think you're both wrong.
You're mostly right.
I... I'd say 95 percent right
and just five percent wrong.
(MEN CHANTING)
Captain Koonan is the finest
officer I've ever served under, ma'am.
I'd follow him to hell and back.
It seems to be a
case for movies.
Ma'am?
Audie Murphy. To Hell
and Back was a movie with...
Forget it, Sergeant.
At ease, relax.
You don't need
to sit at attention.
Yes, ma'am.
You didn't see
the Captain's map,
you had no idea you
were within the impact area,
even though you knew you were
only about 100 meters from the target,
and you'd follow
Captain Koonan to hell.
And back, ma'am.
He'd get us back.
And back.
May I speak freely, ma'am?
The skipper...
I mean, Captain Koonan.
Well...
He'd never deliberately put us in a
position where anyone could get hurt.
Then how did two Marines
end up in sick bay, Sergeant?
That was Bell's own fault.
If he'd have kept his head down like
the Gunny said, he'd have been okay.
If Bell had been in the safety
area, he would have been okay.
Affirmative, ma'am, but...
But?
I was scared to death
out there, ma'am.
I've never been in combat.
And those bombs, they...
Man, they sounded
like I don't know what.
The thing is, I'll probably be scared
that bad again some day. Worse, maybe.
But I know something now.
What's that, Sergeant?
I know I can handle
being that scared.
I won't freeze.
I'll get the job done.
May I go now, ma'am?
The new Gunny
comes on board today.
I'd like to see that my
gear is squared away.
Thank you, Sergeant
Tesla. Dismissed.
Aye, aye, ma'am.
Who's next?
That was the last of them.
That's it?
Four interviews and
what do we have?
"I didn't know we were
beyond the safety area,"
"He's the finest Officer
I've ever served under,"
and, "I'd follow him
to hell and back."
In other words,
it was Bell's fault.
How could it be
a trainee's fault?
I've really got to
talk to Corporal Bell.
I've been calling the
hospital. He's still unconscious.
(MAN CHATTERING)
You are not a wet nurse,
Gunnery Sergeant Post.
You are not a camp counselor.
You are not a therapist.
You are an instructor
for Recon Marines.
Aye, aye, sir.
I do not want them stroked.
I do not want them coddled.
I want them tempered.
I want them hardened,
so they are absolutely
confident that they can do their job
and come back alive.
Aye, aye, Skipper.
(SCREAMING)
Corporal Sibley,
you are one of the most miserable
specimens I have ever seen!
You are one day from graduation
and you cannot defeat
a simple obstacle!
But you will, Sibley.
Because I am gonna correct
what God has screwed up
if it is the last
thing that I do!
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!
Now, we will do
this again tomorrow!
And when we do, you
will use your right foot
to boost yourself
to the top of the wall.
Do you understand?
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!
Now get some!
(MEN CHATTERING)
Guns.
Sir?
There is no tomorrow in combat.
Sir, Sibley is exhausted.
You've been in combat, Gunny.
Yes, sir.
Were you ever not
scared, not tired?
Corporal Sibley!
You will defeat
this obstacle today!
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!
(YELLING)
(GRUNTING)
(GROANS)
Get up, Sibley. Get up!
Do you want to be
a Recon Marine?
I am a Recon Marine!
Then why aren't you
using your foot, Sibley?
No excuse, Gunnery Sergeant!
Get your ass over the wall
or I swear to God I'll kick it back
to wherever the hell it came from!
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant Post!
(GRUNTS)
And the rest of you!
What the hell are you
doing? You are a team.
If one man fails, you all fail!
Lets go!
Come on, Sibley!
What are you?
Recon!
ALL: Recon, Recon, Recon,
Recon, Recon...
(ALL CHEERING)
Go, go, go!
MAC: Gunny Krychuck, why were
your men outside the safety area?
According to the map, we were
inside the safety area, ma'am.
If Corporal Bell
had kept his cool,
we'd all be having a
cold one at the NCO club.
Do you need to nearly die
to have a cold beer?
That's what we do, ma'am.
We kill, or we die.
There's lots of people who
don't like to think of it that way,
but you can bet they're the
ones who'll scream the loudest
if we don't do our job.
Especially when they start
doing the dying because of it.
(HEART MONITOR BEEPING)
MAC: Corporal Bell?
I'm Major MacKenzie, Judge
Advocate General Corps.
This is Lieutenant Roberts.
The doctor gave us five minutes.
Yes, ma'am.
How are you feeling?
Like I was run over by a tank.
Well, we're trying to determine
the cause of the accident.
Can you remember
anything that might be helpful?
Just before the
exercise started,
I saw Captain Koonan
doing something with his map.
What was he doing?
I don't know.
Rubbing it,
like with dirt.
And then he took out a pencil
and drew a line on it.
Are you sure, Corporal?
It was dark, remember?
It wasn't but about
from me to you.
And the moon was
shining enough, ma'am.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HARM: More beer for
Corporal Sibley, wall-climber!
MEN: Flyer! Wall-flyer!
So, Sibley,
what's the word on
Gunny Krychuck?
Gunny Krychuck ought to get
a medal. He saved Bell's ass.
That's what I heard.
How in the hell did you guys
wind up in the target area anyway?
Oh, hell, that's simple.
See, Captain Koonan...
Is the finest officer
in the Marine Corps.
Captain Koonan!
ALL: Recon, ooh-rah!
BAXTER: Recon?
Ooh-ha.
Take your covers off. We don't
wear them inside in the Corps.
We're Rangers.
Not jarheads.
As you were, Tesla.
These doggies are our guests.
They're here to learn from us.
The only thing we're
learning from you guys
is how to use the head.
As you were!
Gunny!
Sittin' down.
(CHEERING)
MAN: Force Recon!
(GLASS SHATTERING)
(BUGLE BLOWING REVEILLE)
TESLA: Got to admire
your restraint, Gunny.
You held off decking that jerk
for a good two,
maybe three, seconds.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
Man, I don't remember
it hurting this much.
Don't tell me you're
out of practice, Gunny?
Well, you know, it's
getting harder and harder
to find a good bar fight.
You got that right.
A lot of guys who just
want to talk things out.
We're Recon.
We don't talk.
We do.
Ooh-rah!
Yeah,
a lot of things are getting screwed
up in this new Marine Corps.
Yeah. This whole thing
with Bell and the Gunny.
So what do you think
about Captain Koonan?
I think he's a
hell of an officer.
You think he's too
hard on the men?
Do you?
Reckless with their safety?
Well, you'd have to tell me,
Sergeant Tesla. I'm the new guy here.
You've been in combat, right?
Yep.
In war, things don't
always go as planned?
More often than not.
Captain Koonan is famous for
interjecting problems
into the mission.
That way we got to solve
it right then and there.
It's for our own good.
He wants to give us the confidence
to know we can get the job done
and survive.
I'd heard a lot about the Captain
before I was assigned to this unit,
and, uh, that was
the word on him.
His men come back alive.
I think Gunny Krychuck
ought to get a medal.
The Captain's put
the Gunny up for
a Navy/Marine Corps
medal for his heroism.
It's in Colonel
Malcolm's hands now.
Colonel Malcolm?
If it were up to him, we'd all hold
hands and chant before a mission.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Attention on deck!
(SIGHS)
As you were.
You are one sorry
looking bunch of Marines.
ALL: Sir! Yes, sir!
Menaces to society!
ALL: Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!
Brawlers.
ALL: Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!
These men are involved in a
Battalion-wide live fire exercise today.
Without them,
the exercise cannot go forward.
Sir, I have no authorization
to release them.
What do these look
like to you, Marine?
Captain's bars, sir!
And they are all the
authorization you need.
HARM: Fall in
around the Captain!
Recon Recruit Team Red Dog
five present or accounted for, sir!
There's only one
thing I want to know.
Sir.
How did the men perform?
Outstanding, sir!
How can that be,
Gunnery Sergeant Post?
My men ended up in the brig.
Did you see any Rangers in
the brig, First Sergeant Creed?
Not one Ranger, sir.
Rangers are in sick bay, sir.
I see.
How do you feel about
that, First Sergeant?
I'm appalled by
their conduct, sir.
The First Sergeant and
I are appalled, Gunny.
Yes, sir. I thought
you would be, sir.
It will not happen again.
No, sir.
The close quarter battle
exercise today will be your last.
Screw it up,
and you will not
become Recon Marines.
So there is only one
possible outcome, gentlemen.
Success!
ALL: Sir! Yes, sir!
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
Gunny briefing's at 1300.
Aye, aye, sir.
Outstanding.
You men get some Zs.
It's going to be a long day.
Fall out!
ALL: Aye, aye, sir!
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Major?
It is the custom to
salute an officer, Gunny.
Yes, ma'am.
You are loving this new
relationship, aren't you?
Not as much as you're
loving your new infantry career.
Well, it has its kicks, yes.
Corporal Bell regained
consciousness last night.
Did you get a statement?
I did.
Corporal Bell claims
he saw Captain Koonan
deliberately alter his map.
What have you learned?
Koonan is famous for interjecting
problems into his training exercises.
Looks like he went
too far this time.
Ah, we don't know that, Mac.
All we have is a statement from
a Corporal who couldn't hack it.
You like Koonan, don't you?
I respect him.
He may be hard on his men,
he may push the envelope
or bend the rules a little, but...
Yeah, or break the rules.
Now, I don't know
that for sure, Mac.
But I do know that his Marines are
some of the best trained I've seen.
His men come back
alive and in one piece.
Not Bell.
Not Krychuck.
Colonel Malcolm wants a
preliminary report from me by 1200.
You don't have
anything to give him yet.
I have a damaging statement.
And there appears to be a
pattern of conduct involved.
All you have is hearsay.
If "interjecting problems"
jeopardizes their safety,
then he's a bad officer.
It's as simple as that.
How do you train
men for war, Mac?
You can't have a war
if your Marines are dead
before the damn thing starts.
You cannot ruin a man's
career without proof.
MALCOLM: Based on what you know,
do you believe Captain Koonan
should be relieved of command?
Sir, it's my duty
to investigate.
It's also my duty to keep
the results of that investigation
confidential until
I've completed it.
Under the circumstances,
that's not an option, Major.
I can't let Captain Koonan
be made a scapegoat, sir.
Is that what you
think I'm doing?
No, sir.
But inadvertent things happen
when the controls are removed.
Well, damn it, Major. I
didn't remove the controls!
If Captain Koonan placed his
men outside the safety area,
then he's responsible for
putting two of them in sick bay.
If someone is injured on this
exercise because of Captain Koonan,
I will have your oak leaf.
HARM: Fall in!
Recon Team Red Dog Five
present or accounted for, sir!
Post!
At ease.
There is an enemy force in
and around the target village.
Intel tells us
there are two or three Marine
POWs being held in that village.
Battalion will attack at 1600.
The attack will be preceded
by an artillery barrage.
We will be inserted by
helo on the roof of a building.
We'll move down an
outside stairway into an alley.
We'll proceed through
that alley to our objective.
Remember,
this is live fire.
Five minutes after you evac,
the area will be
leveled by artillery.
That means you could get hurt.
Or killed
if you are not well clear.
Who are you?
ALL: We're the best,
sir! Recon! Ooh-rah!
Then prove it to me!
Will there be
anything else, sir?
Did you find my briefing
inadequate, Gunny?
Sir, I was wondering
if there was something
you might have skipped
over or left out, sir.
If I have,
then you will deal
with it, Gunny.
Sir, I'm not worried
about me dealing with it.
I train my men the best way I
know how to become warriors.
Recon Marines are not as other
men, Gunnery Sergeant Post!
Do it!
Aye, aye, sir!
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
HARM: Listen up!
Your success today will
prove you are Recon Marines.
Captain's made it perfectly clear
that this mission is dangerous.
You've heard of
Murphy's Law, gentlemen?
Well, you can
count on one thing.
On this mission,
Murphy will make an appearance.
HARM: All right. Pay
attention, gentlemen.
Intel says there are
two or three POWs
in the building across the
street from our insertion point.
If Intelligence is wrong, we
will proceed building by building
until we locate each and
every POW. Understood?
Got it, Gunny.
Roger that, Gunny.
This is where we earn
that Recon title, gentlemen.
Ooh-Rah! ALL: Ooh-Rah!
Get some!
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
PILOT: Angel One.
This is Big Bird.
Red Dog team has been inserted.
Ready your weapon,
Staff Sergeant.
Go!
Go!
Bad guys!
(GUN FIRING)
POWs? Negative, Gunny!
Negative, Gunny! Negative!
Regroup!
Next target. Go!
Cover!
(GUNS FIRING)
That is one squared-away
team, First Sergeant.
They damn sure are, sir.
Are you up for
promotion, First Sergeant?
(GUNS FIRING)
Go!
Clear!
SIBLEY: Clear! Two POWs.
Allard, help Sibley
free the POWs.
Check for injuries.
Tesla, radio.
Red Dog One. Red Dog Five.
POWs are secure.
HARM: Red Dog One. This
is Red Dog Five. Do you read?
Do you read?
Their radio is supposed
to be inoperable.
Do you read? Not ours.
(STATIC BUZZING)
Captain Koonan's radio is inop.
I knew it. I caught him, Gunny.
I saw the Captain
switching my radio with his.
So I switched them back.
Both the POWs appear to have leg
wounds from the shackles, Gunny!
Assume they can't walk.
Got it, Gunny!
Angel One. Red Dog Five.
POWs are secure. Will call
when we've cleared the area.
Stand by for artillery
coordinates, Staff Sergeant.
Clear!
We've got 10 mikes before ordinance
turns this villa into a nightmare.
HARM: Go!
Stand by, weapons.
They're clear.
HARM: Tesla, radio!
Angel One. Red Dog Five.
Angel One. Red Dog Five.
We are clear of the
objective. Repeat.
We are clear of the objective.
Go!
Fire mission grid
Alpha Bravo 323441.
Direction. 6139.
Tesla!
POW, Gunny!
Damn it, Tesla! Clear
out! That's an order!
Get out of there!
Get the hell out of there!
Damn it.
Rags.
Damn!
(GROANS)
(SCREAMING)
Tesla!
Sergeant Tesla!
My leg!
Continue with the
mission, Sibley!
You've got it. I'm
going back for Tesla!
Gunny, we've got incoming
ordinance in less than five minutes!
Tesla's got a radio! I'll call
to abort! Now get out of here!
Damn it!
First Sergeant, get
this vehicle to Battalion!
We have five minutes
to stop that artillery!
Aye, aye, Skipper.
MAN: Ready on three! Preset!
(MAN CHATTERING)
Ready on five!
KOONAN: What the hell is this!
I need a radio!
We don't have one, sir. But
Battalion's just up the road.
I know where
Battalion is, Marine!
Let's get this damn
thing out of this hole!
Yes, sir!
Sorry, Gunny. I thought
those rags were a POW
and if we would have left him
behind we wouldn't graduate.
Don't worry. Let's
get you out of here.
How's that leg? Not too good.
I think it's broke.
(STATIC)
So's this radio.
All right.
Here it goes.
(HARM GRUNTING)
(GROANING)
Dig, damn it!
Try it, Private!
Take it slow.
She's pretty well
stuck, Skipper.
There is no way in hell a
piece of retrograde steel
is gonna defeat a bunch
of able bodied Marines!
Now put your shoulders
to the damn thing!
Go! Push!
Get out of here, Gunny. Artillery
is gonna turn this place to dust!
I'm not leaving
without you, Tesla!
HARM: What are
you doing back here?
SIBLEY: We're a
team, aren't we, Gunny?
Fire for effect on my command.
Rock it! Rock it, damn it!
Now you get this piece of
junk out of my way, Private!
Move out!
Now!
Fire!
(EXPLOSION)
Guys, get out of here!
Lift!
Fire!
(ALL GRUNTING)
(EXPLOSION)
(COUGHING)
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
(EXPLOSIONS)
Colonel, cease fire! My men
haven't cleared the village.
Cease fire! Cease fire!
They stopped!
They radioed that they were in
the clear. What the hell happened?
They went back
into the village, sir.
Why the hell didn't
they get on the horn?
I don't know.
Why didn't you?
I disabled my team's comm gear.
Somehow the radios got switched.
You disabled your
team's comm gear?
I took out a transmitter
and put it in my office.
Just like I smudged out the
safety perimeter on my map.
I wanted my men to
taste the cordite, sir.
To know the fear
of a close barrage.
I have created problems like that
since I've been with this command.
It is the method I
use to train my men.
Did you hear that,
Major MacKenzie?
Lieutenant Roberts?
Colonel Malcolm did not know.
TESLA: Hey, Gunny,
thanks.
MALCOLM: This is terrific!
Outstanding!
This kind of publicity
will go a long way
towards letting people
know what Recon's all about.
Excellent job,
Major, Lieutenant.
I don't know that we
deserve thanks, sir.
Nonsense.
You helped to expose
a training method
that was putting my
men's lives at risk.
An official letter of reprimand
will become part of Captain
Koonan's permanent record,
and he will be
leaving the Corps.
John Wayne is dead.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
I liked you better in cammies.
Well, I enjoyed wearing 'em.
You were a credit
to the uniform.
Thank you for bringing
my men out, Gunny.
Well, hell, Captain, they teach
you a few things in the Navy, too.
I just saw Corporal
Bell. He's...
Gonna be fine. I know.
I visited him
early this morning.
I hate to see the Corps
lose an officer like you, sir.
Just as well.
I don't understand
this new Corps.
And I don't think it's
right for the country.
Well, I hope you're
wrong about that, Captain.
Time will tell, Commander.
Time will tell.
(MEN CHANTING)
the safety area extends
as far as that wash
on the other side
of that bridge.
Position your team in the wash,
we'll target the tank,
and we'll knock down the bad
guys with Close Air Support.
Aye, sir.
We've got a target to paint
from the other
side of the bridge.
Move out!
Reaper. This is Red Dog One.
I've got a fire mission for you.
I've got a tank with
a laser designation.
Take it out with the Maverick.
Then sanitize the area.
REAPER: Roger, Red
Dog. You paint it, we'll it hit.
Are you sure we're supposed to
get this close to the tank, Gunny?
We can paint it from
here. GUNNY: No.
We paint it from where
the Captain says we paint it.
This side of the bridge.
Red Dog One. Red Dog
Five. We're in position.
Paint it, Gunny.
Roger that, sir. Let's do it.
(BEEPING)
Duck!
PILOT: Reaper Leader
to sections two and three.
Target area is all yours.
(JET APPROACHING)
Duck!
(MEN SHOUTING)
Bell!
KRYCHUCK: Bell, get back here!
(EXPLOSION)
Get down!
NARRATOR: Following in his
father's footsteps as a naval aviator,
Lieutenant Commander
Harmon Rabb, Junior,
suffered a crash while landing his
Tomcat on a storm-tossed carrier at sea.
Diagnosed with night blindness,
Harm transferred to the Navy's
Judge Advocate General Corps,
which investigates, defends
and prosecutes the law of the sea.
There, with fellow JAG
lawyer Major Sarah MacKenzie,
he now fights in and
out of the courtroom
with the same daring and tenacity
that made him a Top Gun in the air.
(MEN CHATTERING)
BUD: Major, the file
you're looking for is...
MAC: I know where it is, Bud.
Uh, yes, ma'am.
But it's already...
0939 and the flight
doesn't leave till 1100.
We have plenty
of time. So relax!
You are so nervous. Yes, ma'am.
It's just that I'm trying to
point out that the file you...
There it is. For heaven's sake,
Bud, it was right in front of you.
Yes, ma'am.
How about that?
(PHONE RINGING)
It's 0940. We've
got plenty of time.
HARM: Did I say anything?
It's the thought that counts.
You were about to tell me
that I'm late for my flight.
Now you and Bud call if you
need any help with your case.
You call if you
need help with yours.
Oh, I've got mine aced.
You guys have your
work cut out for you.
Why is that, sir?
Recon Marines are
trained to be a tight group.
They won't like the idea of
talking about one of their own.
And this Captain Koonan's
got quite a reputation.
For what, ma'am?
For eating JAG
officers for lunch.
(GRUNTING)
Seriously, Koonan is one
tough, old-fashioned Marine.
His nickname is "The Duke."
As in John Wayne.
You're kidding.
You know what bothers me, Harm?
Captain Koonan is a legend.
Came up through the ranks.
More medals than
his chest can hold.
Spent nearly his entire
career with Recon units.
I mean, he designed the
Recon training program.
Well, actually, he designed
the Close Quarter Battle section.
So how does an officer
with that much experience
put his men's lives at
risk in a training exercise?
(ELEVATOR BELL
DINGS) It's a good question.
Thanks for the help.
Miss me already, don't you?
Yes, sir.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
Sergeant Major Sauer!
(DOG BARKING)
Sergeant Major?
(KNOCKING)
SAUER: You will address
me as "sir," Recruit.
Do you understand?
I'm Commander...
Do you understand?
Yes, sir!
(ALL CHUCKLING)
Because you are one of the
most miserable specimens
I have ever seen!
There is no way in hell I am
gonna be able to square away
what God has so
badly screwed up!
There is not enough time,
unless you pay attention
to every word I say.
Do you understand?
Yes, sir. Good.
Then repeat back
what I have just told you.
Every word?
Are you making a joke, Recruit?
No, sir!
It's a pleasure to have you
here, Major. You too, Lieutenant.
I asked for a Marine to
head up this investigation
and, by God, the
Admiral came through.
And a lady to boot. Outstanding.
Admiral Chegwidden didn't tell
me you'd requested a Marine, sir.
It's the only way to do
this investigation properly.
The Marine Corps
has to discipline itself.
Not that we don't appreciate the
help from the Navy, Lieutenant.
It's a new Marine Corps, Major.
We have new equipment, a
new demographic, new methods.
Our training requirements
have to reflect these changes.
We can't think like dinosaurs
in an old John Wayne movie.
Those days are gone.
It's fine to be tough.
It's not fine to get your
men hurt in training.
No, sir. It is not.
Captain Koonan's map.
He says the safety
line was smudged.
That's why his men were
outside the safety area.
You don't believe him, Colonel?
I didn't say that, Major.
Captain Koonan
is a friend of mine.
Now, it would hurt to learn that he
was responsible for what happened.
But it would hurt more if his
leadership reflected badly on the Corps.
Find out what happened
to my Marines, Major.
Yes, sir. Lieutenant.
Well, the target quadrant's
smudged, all right.
Obliterated is more like it.
Well, isn't this the "Danger
Close" boundary here, ma'am?
It doesn't look like it
includes that little road there.
Could be.
Or this could be a line here.
And that does include the road.
Well, if that is
the safety area,
then Captain Koonan
was within his rights.
If not, he put his men at risk.
Putting your men unnecessarily
at risk during a training exercise
or at any time is unacceptable.
(PANTING)
SAUER: You have made
no progress, Recruit!
But luck is with you.
Because I am gonna give you
another opportunity to prove to me
that you are not gonna get
the rest of your team killed
because of your
ineptitude or incompetence.
Assume the position, Recruit.
Begin.
Not bad.
(CHEERING AND WHISTLING)
For the Navy.
(ALL LAUGHING)
(WHISTLE BLOWING)
(GRUNTING)
MAN: Miller! Allard!
Come on.
(GRUNTING)
Very impressive, Captain.
An ordinary Marine
is impressive, Major.
A Recon Marine
must be exceptional
or he will die.
They are expected to
implant sensors and beacons,
capture prisoners, call
and adjust supporting arms,
conduct raids, and
rescue hostages.
(MAN YELLING) Isn't
that right, First Sergeant?
You just told them
the easy part, Skipper.
Sergeant Tesla!
(GRUNTING)
(WHISTLE BLOWING)
Sergeant Tesla
reporting as ordered, sir!
Curve your hand, Sergeant.
The object is to
incapacitate your enemy
by digging your fingers into the
pressure points on his neck, here.
Grab, pull, chop.
(GRUNTS)
Well, he knows his Close Combat.
Hmm?
If you need more than two
blows to kill your enemy,
your chances of dying
increase 60 percent.
Get it right, son.
I will, sir.
Back to it.
Aye, aye, sir!
Everything I had to
say about the accident
is down in black and
white in my statement.
We've read your
statement, Captain.
Then how can I help you, Major?
How many times have you
been on the training range
where the accident took place?
Once.
Just once?
I was not familiar
with the terrain,
if that is your question.
It was a new exercise.
Will that be all, ma'am?
We'd like permission to interview the
Recon Members who were involved.
(SIGHS)
My men are participating in
a live-fire graduation exercise.
If they do not receive a high grade,
they will not become Force Recon.
Reveille is at 0430.
First class, 0600.
Can you conduct your
interviews by then?
If it's not too early, ma'am.
I usually have lunch
by then, Captain.
You can use my office in the
Squad Bay for your interviews.
Will that be all, Major?
Because if it is...
How are the injured men doing?
For the record, Major,
I visit Gunny Krychuck
and Corporal Bell daily.
Also for the record,
I'm very sorry that
Corporal Bell was wounded.
But I am damn glad
that it happened now.
Recon Marines cannot
afford to give in to fear
the way that Corporal Bell did.
The fate of an entire division
depends on how well
these men react under fire.
Exercises like this are designed
to weed people like Bell out.
Then you succeeded, Captain.
If you'll excuse me,
Major, Lieutenant,
my Marines need some hot
chow and a trip to the rain room.
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
Recon! Attention!
Who are you?
ALL: We are the best,
sir! Recon! Ooh-rah!
You're damned right you are.
Dismissed!
ALL: Aye, aye, sir!
(WHOOPING)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Enter.
Major MacKenzie.
Lieutenant Roberts.
This is Sergeant
Krychuck's replacement,
Gunnery Sergeant Post.
(MAN CALLING OUT)
It's good to see you
again, Gunny Post.
Yes, ma'am.
You two served together?
Yes, sir. Bosnia.
2-9, right, Gunny?
2-9, ma'am.
MALCOLM: It's a good outfit.
Let's see, the CO was, uh...
Captain Walls, sir.
Walls, of course.
Who could forget Gonzo Walls.
Well, you two probably
have some catching up to do.
Yes, sir. We certainly do.
No one is to be treated
with kid gloves, Guns.
But the days of
breaking down a man
and building him back
up into a Marine are gone.
Understood, sir.
Dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
One more thing, Gunny.
Sir?
If anyone, enlisted
or commissioned,
doesn't conform to the
way that I want things done,
I expect you to
tell me about it.
That's an order.
Sir!
(DOOR OPENS)
HARM: That was
not very smart, Major.
MAC: As smart as
not telling your partner
you're undercover on the same
case she's working on, Commander?
Sir, ma'am, I don't think this
is a great spot to discuss this.
At ease, Bud. At ease.
How the hell was I supposed to
know who the CO of Force Recon was?
How the hell was I supposed
to know you were coming?
The Admiral thought
it would be best
if we had someone
working from the inside, too.
Getting information from a Recon
Marine is like getting blood from a stone.
Harm, I'm your partner.
Well, maybe the Admiral's developing
a sense of humor. I don't know.
Don't blame it on the
Admiral. You did it on purpose.
Sir, ma'am?
Bud. What?
With all due respect, I
think you're both wrong.
You're mostly right.
I... I'd say 95 percent right
and just five percent wrong.
(MEN CHANTING)
Captain Koonan is the finest
officer I've ever served under, ma'am.
I'd follow him to hell and back.
It seems to be a
case for movies.
Ma'am?
Audie Murphy. To Hell
and Back was a movie with...
Forget it, Sergeant.
At ease, relax.
You don't need
to sit at attention.
Yes, ma'am.
You didn't see
the Captain's map,
you had no idea you
were within the impact area,
even though you knew you were
only about 100 meters from the target,
and you'd follow
Captain Koonan to hell.
And back, ma'am.
He'd get us back.
And back.
May I speak freely, ma'am?
The skipper...
I mean, Captain Koonan.
Well...
He'd never deliberately put us in a
position where anyone could get hurt.
Then how did two Marines
end up in sick bay, Sergeant?
That was Bell's own fault.
If he'd have kept his head down like
the Gunny said, he'd have been okay.
If Bell had been in the safety
area, he would have been okay.
Affirmative, ma'am, but...
But?
I was scared to death
out there, ma'am.
I've never been in combat.
And those bombs, they...
Man, they sounded
like I don't know what.
The thing is, I'll probably be scared
that bad again some day. Worse, maybe.
But I know something now.
What's that, Sergeant?
I know I can handle
being that scared.
I won't freeze.
I'll get the job done.
May I go now, ma'am?
The new Gunny
comes on board today.
I'd like to see that my
gear is squared away.
Thank you, Sergeant
Tesla. Dismissed.
Aye, aye, ma'am.
Who's next?
That was the last of them.
That's it?
Four interviews and
what do we have?
"I didn't know we were
beyond the safety area,"
"He's the finest Officer
I've ever served under,"
and, "I'd follow him
to hell and back."
In other words,
it was Bell's fault.
How could it be
a trainee's fault?
I've really got to
talk to Corporal Bell.
I've been calling the
hospital. He's still unconscious.
(MAN CHATTERING)
You are not a wet nurse,
Gunnery Sergeant Post.
You are not a camp counselor.
You are not a therapist.
You are an instructor
for Recon Marines.
Aye, aye, sir.
I do not want them stroked.
I do not want them coddled.
I want them tempered.
I want them hardened,
so they are absolutely
confident that they can do their job
and come back alive.
Aye, aye, Skipper.
(SCREAMING)
Corporal Sibley,
you are one of the most miserable
specimens I have ever seen!
You are one day from graduation
and you cannot defeat
a simple obstacle!
But you will, Sibley.
Because I am gonna correct
what God has screwed up
if it is the last
thing that I do!
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!
Now, we will do
this again tomorrow!
And when we do, you
will use your right foot
to boost yourself
to the top of the wall.
Do you understand?
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!
Now get some!
(MEN CHATTERING)
Guns.
Sir?
There is no tomorrow in combat.
Sir, Sibley is exhausted.
You've been in combat, Gunny.
Yes, sir.
Were you ever not
scared, not tired?
Corporal Sibley!
You will defeat
this obstacle today!
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!
(YELLING)
(GRUNTING)
(GROANS)
Get up, Sibley. Get up!
Do you want to be
a Recon Marine?
I am a Recon Marine!
Then why aren't you
using your foot, Sibley?
No excuse, Gunnery Sergeant!
Get your ass over the wall
or I swear to God I'll kick it back
to wherever the hell it came from!
Yes, Gunnery Sergeant Post!
(GRUNTS)
And the rest of you!
What the hell are you
doing? You are a team.
If one man fails, you all fail!
Lets go!
Come on, Sibley!
What are you?
Recon!
ALL: Recon, Recon, Recon,
Recon, Recon...
(ALL CHEERING)
Go, go, go!
MAC: Gunny Krychuck, why were
your men outside the safety area?
According to the map, we were
inside the safety area, ma'am.
If Corporal Bell
had kept his cool,
we'd all be having a
cold one at the NCO club.
Do you need to nearly die
to have a cold beer?
That's what we do, ma'am.
We kill, or we die.
There's lots of people who
don't like to think of it that way,
but you can bet they're the
ones who'll scream the loudest
if we don't do our job.
Especially when they start
doing the dying because of it.
(HEART MONITOR BEEPING)
MAC: Corporal Bell?
I'm Major MacKenzie, Judge
Advocate General Corps.
This is Lieutenant Roberts.
The doctor gave us five minutes.
Yes, ma'am.
How are you feeling?
Like I was run over by a tank.
Well, we're trying to determine
the cause of the accident.
Can you remember
anything that might be helpful?
Just before the
exercise started,
I saw Captain Koonan
doing something with his map.
What was he doing?
I don't know.
Rubbing it,
like with dirt.
And then he took out a pencil
and drew a line on it.
Are you sure, Corporal?
It was dark, remember?
It wasn't but about
from me to you.
And the moon was
shining enough, ma'am.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HARM: More beer for
Corporal Sibley, wall-climber!
MEN: Flyer! Wall-flyer!
So, Sibley,
what's the word on
Gunny Krychuck?
Gunny Krychuck ought to get
a medal. He saved Bell's ass.
That's what I heard.
How in the hell did you guys
wind up in the target area anyway?
Oh, hell, that's simple.
See, Captain Koonan...
Is the finest officer
in the Marine Corps.
Captain Koonan!
ALL: Recon, ooh-rah!
BAXTER: Recon?
Ooh-ha.
Take your covers off. We don't
wear them inside in the Corps.
We're Rangers.
Not jarheads.
As you were, Tesla.
These doggies are our guests.
They're here to learn from us.
The only thing we're
learning from you guys
is how to use the head.
As you were!
Gunny!
Sittin' down.
(CHEERING)
MAN: Force Recon!
(GLASS SHATTERING)
(BUGLE BLOWING REVEILLE)
TESLA: Got to admire
your restraint, Gunny.
You held off decking that jerk
for a good two,
maybe three, seconds.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
Man, I don't remember
it hurting this much.
Don't tell me you're
out of practice, Gunny?
Well, you know, it's
getting harder and harder
to find a good bar fight.
You got that right.
A lot of guys who just
want to talk things out.
We're Recon.
We don't talk.
We do.
Ooh-rah!
Yeah,
a lot of things are getting screwed
up in this new Marine Corps.
Yeah. This whole thing
with Bell and the Gunny.
So what do you think
about Captain Koonan?
I think he's a
hell of an officer.
You think he's too
hard on the men?
Do you?
Reckless with their safety?
Well, you'd have to tell me,
Sergeant Tesla. I'm the new guy here.
You've been in combat, right?
Yep.
In war, things don't
always go as planned?
More often than not.
Captain Koonan is famous for
interjecting problems
into the mission.
That way we got to solve
it right then and there.
It's for our own good.
He wants to give us the confidence
to know we can get the job done
and survive.
I'd heard a lot about the Captain
before I was assigned to this unit,
and, uh, that was
the word on him.
His men come back alive.
I think Gunny Krychuck
ought to get a medal.
The Captain's put
the Gunny up for
a Navy/Marine Corps
medal for his heroism.
It's in Colonel
Malcolm's hands now.
Colonel Malcolm?
If it were up to him, we'd all hold
hands and chant before a mission.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Attention on deck!
(SIGHS)
As you were.
You are one sorry
looking bunch of Marines.
ALL: Sir! Yes, sir!
Menaces to society!
ALL: Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!
Brawlers.
ALL: Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!
These men are involved in a
Battalion-wide live fire exercise today.
Without them,
the exercise cannot go forward.
Sir, I have no authorization
to release them.
What do these look
like to you, Marine?
Captain's bars, sir!
And they are all the
authorization you need.
HARM: Fall in
around the Captain!
Recon Recruit Team Red Dog
five present or accounted for, sir!
There's only one
thing I want to know.
Sir.
How did the men perform?
Outstanding, sir!
How can that be,
Gunnery Sergeant Post?
My men ended up in the brig.
Did you see any Rangers in
the brig, First Sergeant Creed?
Not one Ranger, sir.
Rangers are in sick bay, sir.
I see.
How do you feel about
that, First Sergeant?
I'm appalled by
their conduct, sir.
The First Sergeant and
I are appalled, Gunny.
Yes, sir. I thought
you would be, sir.
It will not happen again.
No, sir.
The close quarter battle
exercise today will be your last.
Screw it up,
and you will not
become Recon Marines.
So there is only one
possible outcome, gentlemen.
Success!
ALL: Sir! Yes, sir!
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
Gunny briefing's at 1300.
Aye, aye, sir.
Outstanding.
You men get some Zs.
It's going to be a long day.
Fall out!
ALL: Aye, aye, sir!
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Major?
It is the custom to
salute an officer, Gunny.
Yes, ma'am.
You are loving this new
relationship, aren't you?
Not as much as you're
loving your new infantry career.
Well, it has its kicks, yes.
Corporal Bell regained
consciousness last night.
Did you get a statement?
I did.
Corporal Bell claims
he saw Captain Koonan
deliberately alter his map.
What have you learned?
Koonan is famous for interjecting
problems into his training exercises.
Looks like he went
too far this time.
Ah, we don't know that, Mac.
All we have is a statement from
a Corporal who couldn't hack it.
You like Koonan, don't you?
I respect him.
He may be hard on his men,
he may push the envelope
or bend the rules a little, but...
Yeah, or break the rules.
Now, I don't know
that for sure, Mac.
But I do know that his Marines are
some of the best trained I've seen.
His men come back
alive and in one piece.
Not Bell.
Not Krychuck.
Colonel Malcolm wants a
preliminary report from me by 1200.
You don't have
anything to give him yet.
I have a damaging statement.
And there appears to be a
pattern of conduct involved.
All you have is hearsay.
If "interjecting problems"
jeopardizes their safety,
then he's a bad officer.
It's as simple as that.
How do you train
men for war, Mac?
You can't have a war
if your Marines are dead
before the damn thing starts.
You cannot ruin a man's
career without proof.
MALCOLM: Based on what you know,
do you believe Captain Koonan
should be relieved of command?
Sir, it's my duty
to investigate.
It's also my duty to keep
the results of that investigation
confidential until
I've completed it.
Under the circumstances,
that's not an option, Major.
I can't let Captain Koonan
be made a scapegoat, sir.
Is that what you
think I'm doing?
No, sir.
But inadvertent things happen
when the controls are removed.
Well, damn it, Major. I
didn't remove the controls!
If Captain Koonan placed his
men outside the safety area,
then he's responsible for
putting two of them in sick bay.
If someone is injured on this
exercise because of Captain Koonan,
I will have your oak leaf.
HARM: Fall in!
Recon Team Red Dog Five
present or accounted for, sir!
Post!
At ease.
There is an enemy force in
and around the target village.
Intel tells us
there are two or three Marine
POWs being held in that village.
Battalion will attack at 1600.
The attack will be preceded
by an artillery barrage.
We will be inserted by
helo on the roof of a building.
We'll move down an
outside stairway into an alley.
We'll proceed through
that alley to our objective.
Remember,
this is live fire.
Five minutes after you evac,
the area will be
leveled by artillery.
That means you could get hurt.
Or killed
if you are not well clear.
Who are you?
ALL: We're the best,
sir! Recon! Ooh-rah!
Then prove it to me!
Will there be
anything else, sir?
Did you find my briefing
inadequate, Gunny?
Sir, I was wondering
if there was something
you might have skipped
over or left out, sir.
If I have,
then you will deal
with it, Gunny.
Sir, I'm not worried
about me dealing with it.
I train my men the best way I
know how to become warriors.
Recon Marines are not as other
men, Gunnery Sergeant Post!
Do it!
Aye, aye, sir!
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
HARM: Listen up!
Your success today will
prove you are Recon Marines.
Captain's made it perfectly clear
that this mission is dangerous.
You've heard of
Murphy's Law, gentlemen?
Well, you can
count on one thing.
On this mission,
Murphy will make an appearance.
HARM: All right. Pay
attention, gentlemen.
Intel says there are
two or three POWs
in the building across the
street from our insertion point.
If Intelligence is wrong, we
will proceed building by building
until we locate each and
every POW. Understood?
Got it, Gunny.
Roger that, Gunny.
This is where we earn
that Recon title, gentlemen.
Ooh-Rah! ALL: Ooh-Rah!
Get some!
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
PILOT: Angel One.
This is Big Bird.
Red Dog team has been inserted.
Ready your weapon,
Staff Sergeant.
Go!
Go!
Bad guys!
(GUN FIRING)
POWs? Negative, Gunny!
Negative, Gunny! Negative!
Regroup!
Next target. Go!
Cover!
(GUNS FIRING)
That is one squared-away
team, First Sergeant.
They damn sure are, sir.
Are you up for
promotion, First Sergeant?
(GUNS FIRING)
Go!
Clear!
SIBLEY: Clear! Two POWs.
Allard, help Sibley
free the POWs.
Check for injuries.
Tesla, radio.
Red Dog One. Red Dog Five.
POWs are secure.
HARM: Red Dog One. This
is Red Dog Five. Do you read?
Do you read?
Their radio is supposed
to be inoperable.
Do you read? Not ours.
(STATIC BUZZING)
Captain Koonan's radio is inop.
I knew it. I caught him, Gunny.
I saw the Captain
switching my radio with his.
So I switched them back.
Both the POWs appear to have leg
wounds from the shackles, Gunny!
Assume they can't walk.
Got it, Gunny!
Angel One. Red Dog Five.
POWs are secure. Will call
when we've cleared the area.
Stand by for artillery
coordinates, Staff Sergeant.
Clear!
We've got 10 mikes before ordinance
turns this villa into a nightmare.
HARM: Go!
Stand by, weapons.
They're clear.
HARM: Tesla, radio!
Angel One. Red Dog Five.
Angel One. Red Dog Five.
We are clear of the
objective. Repeat.
We are clear of the objective.
Go!
Fire mission grid
Alpha Bravo 323441.
Direction. 6139.
Tesla!
POW, Gunny!
Damn it, Tesla! Clear
out! That's an order!
Get out of there!
Get the hell out of there!
Damn it.
Rags.
Damn!
(GROANS)
(SCREAMING)
Tesla!
Sergeant Tesla!
My leg!
Continue with the
mission, Sibley!
You've got it. I'm
going back for Tesla!
Gunny, we've got incoming
ordinance in less than five minutes!
Tesla's got a radio! I'll call
to abort! Now get out of here!
Damn it!
First Sergeant, get
this vehicle to Battalion!
We have five minutes
to stop that artillery!
Aye, aye, Skipper.
MAN: Ready on three! Preset!
(MAN CHATTERING)
Ready on five!
KOONAN: What the hell is this!
I need a radio!
We don't have one, sir. But
Battalion's just up the road.
I know where
Battalion is, Marine!
Let's get this damn
thing out of this hole!
Yes, sir!
Sorry, Gunny. I thought
those rags were a POW
and if we would have left him
behind we wouldn't graduate.
Don't worry. Let's
get you out of here.
How's that leg? Not too good.
I think it's broke.
(STATIC)
So's this radio.
All right.
Here it goes.
(HARM GRUNTING)
(GROANING)
Dig, damn it!
Try it, Private!
Take it slow.
She's pretty well
stuck, Skipper.
There is no way in hell a
piece of retrograde steel
is gonna defeat a bunch
of able bodied Marines!
Now put your shoulders
to the damn thing!
Go! Push!
Get out of here, Gunny. Artillery
is gonna turn this place to dust!
I'm not leaving
without you, Tesla!
HARM: What are
you doing back here?
SIBLEY: We're a
team, aren't we, Gunny?
Fire for effect on my command.
Rock it! Rock it, damn it!
Now you get this piece of
junk out of my way, Private!
Move out!
Now!
Fire!
(EXPLOSION)
Guys, get out of here!
Lift!
Fire!
(ALL GRUNTING)
(EXPLOSION)
(COUGHING)
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
(EXPLOSIONS)
Colonel, cease fire! My men
haven't cleared the village.
Cease fire! Cease fire!
They stopped!
They radioed that they were in
the clear. What the hell happened?
They went back
into the village, sir.
Why the hell didn't
they get on the horn?
I don't know.
Why didn't you?
I disabled my team's comm gear.
Somehow the radios got switched.
You disabled your
team's comm gear?
I took out a transmitter
and put it in my office.
Just like I smudged out the
safety perimeter on my map.
I wanted my men to
taste the cordite, sir.
To know the fear
of a close barrage.
I have created problems like that
since I've been with this command.
It is the method I
use to train my men.
Did you hear that,
Major MacKenzie?
Lieutenant Roberts?
Colonel Malcolm did not know.
TESLA: Hey, Gunny,
thanks.
MALCOLM: This is terrific!
Outstanding!
This kind of publicity
will go a long way
towards letting people
know what Recon's all about.
Excellent job,
Major, Lieutenant.
I don't know that we
deserve thanks, sir.
Nonsense.
You helped to expose
a training method
that was putting my
men's lives at risk.
An official letter of reprimand
will become part of Captain
Koonan's permanent record,
and he will be
leaving the Corps.
John Wayne is dead.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
I liked you better in cammies.
Well, I enjoyed wearing 'em.
You were a credit
to the uniform.
Thank you for bringing
my men out, Gunny.
Well, hell, Captain, they teach
you a few things in the Navy, too.
I just saw Corporal
Bell. He's...
Gonna be fine. I know.
I visited him
early this morning.
I hate to see the Corps
lose an officer like you, sir.
Just as well.
I don't understand
this new Corps.
And I don't think it's
right for the country.
Well, I hope you're
wrong about that, Captain.
Time will tell, Commander.
Time will tell.
(MEN CHANTING)