Flying Leathernecks

Our story begins in the midsummer of 1942

oh the Hawaiian island of oahu.

Here, the gentle surf which rolled on waikiki

occasionally drowned out the roar of planes overhead,

constant reminders of the task to be done.

The Japanese had conquered the island chain to guadalcanal,

and we had to start the long climb back

despite the initial lack of men and materiel.

This is the story of a group of young American men

who comprised the marine fighter squadron vmf-247,

men representing and represented by the American flag

which flew at the base of a sleeping volcano,

unmistakable evidence that our country, then as always,

would fight against aggression and all the aggressors

that challenged the rights of free men.

Here it is, Mac. Come and get it.

Come on, fellas. Let's celebrate.

Come on and get your beer.

Save one of those for me!

Hey, beer!

I'll always take a beer.

Hey, here he is!

Come on, come on, give me a beer.

Captain Griffin, being that I'm the smartest,

the squadron has selected me

to make a little speech of congratulation.

Attention!

Gentlemen, major Kirby,

your new squadron commander.

This isn't usual, major.

May I speak, sir?

Go ahead.

Well, this is a joke, sir.

We thought when major Hardy was injured that griff...

I mean, captain Griffin, would be in command.

I mean, with the urgency and all, and us on alert,

well, we arranged this... or I arranged it

as sort of a rib to... to congratulate him,

if you see what I mean.

I see.

Well, relax, men.

And you can hang on to that beer.

It's scarce enough in the islands.

I know we'll see no more beer in the ready room,

but this is uh, an unusual occasion.

We'll forget it.

When the command meets the commander

for the first time, it's like a wedding.

Nobody knows how it's gonna turn out,

whether it'll be a happy golden anniversary

or a divorce.

We'll see.

What's this?

On your way to a rodeo?

No, sir, no, no. It's just 'cause I got high arches.

Almost all texans got high arches, heredity.

You know, like eskimo babies, they got thicker skin...

Okay, but don't wear them when flying.

My arches are just as high in the air

as they are on the ground, major.

Not when flying.

- Yes, sir. - Major.

This character takes some getting used to, his conversation,

but I put up with him for two reasons:

One, he's my brother-in-law.

The other reason is, this idiot is rich.

As soon as this ruckus is over,

I'm going to retire on his money.

I hope the major knows

I was just clowning about the boots.

Sure.

Thank you.

This squadron has a warning order to stand by.

I can tell you we will be receiving orders

to move out almost any minute.

Start getting your personal gear

and personal affairs up-to-date.

Well, anyway.

See? He didn't get the job.

Well, that's logical,

since the minds working under those brass hats work in reverse.

Fellas, I think we looked a little jerky

when our new co got his first hinge at us.

I've heard about this guy. He's rugged.

He was leading close air support training at north island.

He made those guys come in so close to the beach

they picked up seashells in their oil coolers.

You guys are wrong. He's all right.

I know he's all right.

Here's the squadron roster and table of organization.

We're in good shape.

Come.

May I speak to the major, sir?

Go ahead.

I'd like to thank you, sir.

That letter sure helped my family.

I mean, it was written in a way that...

Well, it helped us all, sir, about my brother.

That's all I wanted to say, sir.

Your brother? What's your name?

Malotke, sir. My brother's name was Joe.

He served with you at midway.

Oh, big Joe malotke. Good guy. I'm sorry.

If you're half as good a man as your brother,

I'll be proud to have you in my command, lieutenant.

Thank you, sir.

Give me a rundown on each man, job by job.

Captain Carl Griffin, executive officer.

And they call you Carl.

Griff.

Captain Walter Tanner, communications officer.

Good man.

Fine.

Captain Harold jorgensen...

Operations officer.

Major, may I speak frankly?

Sure.

It's me you're worried about, and naturally.

In a spot like this,

when they don't give the squadron to the exec,

it's because he hasn't been recommended.

Naturally, the new co would be worried.

I like plain speaking. What was the beef?

No beef. I didn't think major Hardy would recommend me.

We just didn't mesh.

You think he acted out of personal dislike?

You know Hardy?

I don't think he ever in his life

acted on an emotion of any kind.

I think it was his cold, honest opinion

that I wasn't up to command.

I think he was wrong, but...

That's just a case of different opinion.

Well, that's life in these marines.

You wanted a combat command,

and I wanted to sell the brass a pet theory.

Close air support for ground troops.

That's right.

Here we are, so let's get the job done.

The name's Dan.

We'll make a squadron out of this.

What else?

How can you call this stuff personal effects?

Well, this concludes my affairs in Honolulu.

I'd like to have a copy of those conclusions.

I bet you would.

What can you say in 10 words?

By the way, what did you say your phone number was?

Come on!

Get the lead out of that pen.

Ten words, Shakespeare.

Okay, malotke, okay.

It's from Burt.

He just says he can't write for some time.

Gone away, I guess.

I wonder if it's midway, like Joe.

No. Midway, we got.

Jorgy, I'll see you at the club.

Okay, Burt.

Mrs. jorgensen, it's from your husband,

and of course, the tenth word is “love.”

Shall I leave it on the table for you?

No.

Okay, Billy.

Thank you, my friend.

It's from that cute little Billy castle.

I just love that boy.

Excuse me.

Do you think we'll have time?

Sure. We'll make the time, Charlie.

Okay, then.

Got word from your son Charlie.

He says he can't write for quite a while,

but he knows that his ma and pa will know

that he will act so that they can know

there will be no shame brought on his lodge,

and to tell his sisters

to take good care of his horses

and to keep on with their schoolwork.

At this rate, I'll be here all night.

Bedtime story! Bedtime story!

Your daddy sent you a bedtime story.

I'll read it to you.

Papa says he's on a big island,

but he's going to fly away very soon

and then hurry back to us.

But in the meantime, he...

He wants us not to do anything wrong

and to take care of each other.

As soon as he gets back,

we're going to live on the ranch.

Can I have a pony?

Of course, darling.

All night, the coded messages said,

"urgent. Urgent. Urgent!”

It seemed hard to believe that anything was urgent

oh that beautiful pacific dawn

when vmf-247 sailed for cactus airfield

on the island of guadalcanal.

But urgency there was!