The Pacific

We were in downtown Norfolk,

up on about the third story in a restaurant.

And we heard it and they flooded the streets

and they were hollering and dancing and carrying on.

And we were right there with them.

And it was the happiest day.

It was the happiest day.

By the time you come out,

You're not like you were when you went in.

You've aged a whole lot.

It was a struggle to try to get it into your mind

That you were actually back in the States.

You just kept thinking that you were gonna wake up

And find it was all a dream.

Growing up, my bedroom was next to my parents' bedroom.

And I can remember many a night

My father screaming-

- Screaming having a nightmare. - Right, he did.

And then I would hear my mother's voice

Trying to calm him down.

Trying to wake him up to calm him down.

He had a very strong will

So he tried to overcome

What was bothering him.

But it lasted his entire life.

- That's John Basilone. - So who the hell is John Basilone?

Jesus, you live in a cave?

The guy killed like 1000 japs on the canal.

The president gave him a medal.

He's a hero.

Woke up one day and I was 30 years old-

Satisfied. Then you walk in.

- I reenlisted. - I see.

They can ship me out whenever they want.

Dear Vera,

There are things men can do to one another

That are sobering to the soul.

It is one thing to reconcile these things with God,

Another to square it with yourself.

I don't want to look into your eyes someday and see no spark,

No love, no life.

That would break my heart.

I told you to cease fire. I see you with a sidearm.

We were all sent here to kill japs, weren't we?

So what the hell difference does it make what weapon we use?

I'd use my goddamn hands if I had to.

Dropped some kind of new bomb on the jap mainland.

Vaporized an entire city in the blink of an eye.

Killed a lot of japs.

Let's go, 2nd platoon. Line up.

Let's go. Get in there tight.

"...and the people went their ways, each to his own ship.

Then bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep;

But Achilles still wept for thinking of his dear comrade,

And sleep, before whom all things bow,

Could take no hold upon him.

This way and that did he turn

As he thought of all they had done together,

And all they had gone through"-

Hey, you're not listening to me.

Oh, no, sure we are.

"... Thought of all they had done together,

And all they had gone through

Both on the Fields of battle

And the waves of the weary seas. "

How about a comic, Amos?

I've got "snookums, " "phantom, "Blondie. "

what's your favorite?

- The japs surrendered. - Man: What?

- What did he say? - The war is over.

Did you hear that?

Definite. On the radio.

- The war's over! - The war's over.

It's over.

It's over.

- Can you believe it? - Yes!

It's over! It's over!

I need a drink!

What do you got? - Come on now.

- Here, open wide. - You're wasting it.

You see that? Line of stars angling up?

Yup. That's snafu's pecker.

hey, boys.

You've got a nice little party going on down there, lieutenant.

Ah. A little victory party.

Can't believe it's over, huh?

Sort of a "what do you do now?"

Here

Have a little v-j day party of your own.

Thanks, lieutenant.

"what do we do now?"

What an idiot.

Well, I'll show you what I'm doing now.

Well, there it is:

My first official act of peacetime.

Snaf.

Jesus. Nothing's changed.

I thought the same thing when I got back.

Funny. Here

There. You can keep the change.

I ain't touching that. I might've jumped into Normandy,

But at least I got some liberties in London and Paris.

You GI-rines, you got nothing but jungle rot and malaria.

Welcome home.

If you'd just given us some warning-

A phone call, a telegram or something.

There. Ah.

We'll get this stuff out of here first thing.

I don't know where we're gonna put it all.

Well, half this junk we can throw away.

That's not what you said when we lugged it all up here.

Oh, that was four years ago.

I'll clear a corner and make do.

Absolutely not. We will have this place spic and span as always.

This whole box can go to the junk man.

let's give him a moment.

Can we have three cokes? - I could stand for some whiskey instead of that.

Coming up.

There you go.

- Thanks, snaf. - Snafu: My pleasure.

Hiya. I'm Merrielle Shelton.

How about I take you to the back of the train

And you can show me your caboose?

- Ouch. - Did I tell you?

Feisty.

Snafu just got pinked on the train home.

If we'd had been here six months ago,

That broad would've given us all blowjobs.

lied to again.

This entire division didn't do

That "plus six months" horseshit we did.

They got home a week after v-j day- parades, pretty girls.

1946, the party's all over.

Not so much as a complimentary beer.

Somebody had to stay and clean up after the war.

I suppose I'm gonna have to get a job too.

- Doing what? - I don't know.

Anything between digging ditches and owning a bank.

nah.

First I've got to get Florence home.

Wait. Florence from Melbourne? - Mm-hmm.

You're shipping her all the way over here

And this is the first we hear about it?

Come on, snaf. That was in Okinawa.

Figured it'd be bad luck to talk about it then.

- Well, when is she coming? - I don't know.

I cabled her, but we've been at sea.

I guess I'm gonna find out soon enough

Whether I'm getting married or not.

What about you, Sledgehammer

I'm just hoping this Florence girl comes to her senses.

You got a job lined up in mobile?

No. No job, no girl,

No plans. - How long do you think that's gonna last?

As long as the sheriff lets me.

I'm gonna get that girl.

- Oh, leave her alone. - You boys watch.

- I'm gonna get that girl. - You've been saying that

About every girl since San Diego.

Mrs. Basilone,

I'm Lena.

I recognize you from the photos Johnny sent.

Well, come in.

Lena...

He says you're beautiful.

George.

I heard so much about you.

The last time I saw him in Honolulu,

He couldn't stop talking about you.

He was just about to ship out.

Would you like a coffee?

No. Thank you. I'm fine.

Please sit down.

Thank you.

You have a very nice home.

Thank you.

The 4th marines are mustered out.

How about you?

I'm waiting for orders.

Hurry up and wait.

Do you- do you need anything?

No. No, I'm not here for-

John's insurance money

Is gonna help you out, right, Lena?

Actually, he never signed the papers.

He never signed? That's $10, 000.

It's okay. I'm all right.

I saw his grave on Iwo.

He's got lots of good marines on all sides of him.

He-

He would've appreciated that.

Are you sure about that coffee?

Maybe something stiffer?

No.

I came by because

I thought you should have this.

- There's my little brother. - Porter: Jewett!

Jewett, Texas!

No sign of Florence.

Melbourne's a hell of a long way, Burgie.