Gardens of Stone

Escort, halt!

Firing party.

Atten... hut!

Please rise for the rendering of military honors.

Present arms!

Firing party, fire three volleys.

Take a breath. Stand by.

Ready.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Ready.

Present arms!

This is patrol. We've got a couple of people hit here.

Present arms!

They struck two. I've got, er...

a para-medevac here took two rounds in the chest.

Roger that.

The other, he's got one round in the arm, right arm.

Roger that.

What's going to be the ETA back to, er, death stop?

It looks like we might make it in about seven minutes. We'll push it.

Roger that.

This trail... trail's down to about nine.

Okay, let's get that guy aboard.

Roger that. I'm on you.

Let's get him on and get out.

Er, we can't take anybody else out here.

Make sure that guy doesn't get on.

Roger that.

Jesus Christ!

Medevac's down. Medevac's down.

Medevac's hit.

Roger. We got one down.

Guidon. Parade, hut!

On behalf of the President of the United States,

please accept this flag in recognition

of your loved one's faithful service.

Ma'am, on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Army,

and the Army Arlington Ladies,

we extend to you our deepest sympathies, and God bless you.

Dear Sarge,

maybe this is my last letter to you.

I feel that it is.

Rache.

I lost three men today, three of my good ones.

But that's the way it is, isn't it?

You always lose the good ones.

What do I tell their folks?

What would you tell my wife?

As for me, it's funny,

but I always thought I'd been here before.

I've been a soldier all my life, Sarge.

I mean it, all my life.

Even when I was a kid.

Well, I'm here, but it's all wrong.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Sure, there was going to be blood and sacrifice

and... and death.

I knew that, Sarge, but not like this.

You tried to tell me how it was.

Right from that very first day, you tried.

But I was so young,

so sure I had the answers.

Well, I don't think I have the answers any more.

All I've got are questions.

- Specialist Jack Willow reporting. - Pete Deveber. Company clerk, man.

- Nice to meet you, Pete. - Nice to meet you, too.

Okay, your platoon's on a drop in the garden.

- Drop? - Yeah, burial.

Arlington. That's what we do here.

Fuckin' Nam's made buryin' folks a real growth industry.

We're up to 15 drops a day. Bing, bing, bing, bing.

But, since you missed this one,

you can take the rest of the morning off.

I shall cover it, all right?

That's real friendly of you.

Yeah, yeah. I'm a friendly type, man.

Is that the top kick's desk?

Yeah. Slasher Williams.

Slasher?

Yeah. He did some boxing in Nam.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Oh, that reminds me. I told him I'd, er,

get somebody to pull guard duty tonight.

Oh, no sweat. I'll take it.

I think, um... I think you're gonna like Top, man.

I think you guys are gonna hit it off. I really do.

Hiya, Top.

Hey! Hey! Who the hell are you?

Sarge, Jack Willow's doing guard duty tonight.

It might interest you to know, Dildo,

that night guard duty is the ugliest duty you can pull,

and already had been pulled by little shit-for-brains.

Over there, his own self.

Yeah, I know, Top. He told me.

I, ah... it's okay. I volunteered.

You volunteered in my company?

A fudge-nose volunteer in my company?

Dildo, you have managed to top my shit list

in exactly 13 fucking seconds!

You got a problem with this boy, Top?

No, Sergeant Major. Not exactly.

I could hear you cussing all the way to the latrine.

This boy bugger your pet goat or something?

I thought I'd drop by, catch the score.

Yeah, well, I think it's a disgrace,

a disgrace that that unit of toy soldiers

is permitted to wear the crossed rifles of the infantry.

- Easy. - Especially at a time

when the real infantry is crawling through rice paddies

and buffalo shit in Vietnam. That's what I think.

Who knows? I've let enough people know how I think

to make myself very unpopular around here.

- Sergeant Hazard. - Sir.

What's the debate about?

I was just telling the Sergeant Major here, sir,

that I thought the best thing I could do for the Army, my Army,

is to get the snot-noses like these ready for the inevitable.

- And that's why I want to teach... - Clell...

- Clell. - Sir?

You just applied for a transfer and I denied it.

- Now, that's it. No discussion. - Right.

Ah, he's the best damn soldier on this post.

Except for maybe, er, Sergeant Major Nelson.

What's he doing here?

He did serve two tours in Nam, man. Captain!

New man. Wanted to meet you.

Outstanding.

Come into my office. We'll have a little chat.

You see me when you're through, Dildo.

That's Willow, Top.

Common mistake.

So, you want to get laid tonight,

or you rather have some fun?

In the foul mood I'm in, I'd...

I'd even consider hanging out with you, old buddy.

Sergeant Major, Sergeant.

Sorry, sir.

Sir Butterbar.

- Have a seat. - Thank you, sir.

Welcome to Delta Company, Specialist Dildo.

It's Willow, sir. Specialist Willow.

Oh, so it is. So it is.

Home of record, Fort Huachuca. You an army brat, Willow?

Yes, sir. My father is, or he was, a master sergeant, sir.

He's retired now.

I see.

College basketball, starting guard.

Outstanding.

We could use another good player.

Especially a white one.

You work hard and you'll be an NCO yourself

before you know it. Chip off the old block, eh?

Well, sir,

I was thinking of shooting a little higher than that.

Er, I'm... I'm interested in applying for OCS.

And while we're on the subject, sir, I'd like to apply

for a transfer to a line unit in Vietnam, sir.

I don't think you fully realise what a privilege it is

to serve here in the Old Guard.

We're the escort to the President.

And this is the most STRAC outfit

in the United States Army.

Now, you listen to me, son.

You got plenty of time for Vietnam.

As for OCS, you do a good job for me here,

show me you're officer material,

and I'll personally see that you get a shot.

The army could always use another bright young shavetail.

- What do you say? Okay? - Yes, sir.

All right, that'll be all.

- See you around, Pete. - See you, man.

How you doin'?

Sergeant.

Yeah?

Er, I can't figure this.

The shoes have little steel plates on the insoles.

Yes, that's right.

That's so every time you bring your feet together

it makes a nice loud crack.

Welcome to show business, soldier.

It's a real honor to meet you, Sergeant. Specialist Willow.

Is that right? Why?

Well, for one thing, we're the only two men in this place

who seem to want out.

Want out? To where?

Front line unit in Vietnam, sir... Sergeant.

There is no front line in Vietnam.

Not like the other wars. Hell, it's not even a war.

Nothing to win. No way to win it.

If that's how you feel, Sergeant,

why are you going back?

I'm not.