Lost Battalion

Capt. McMurtry:
Lieutenant Leak.

Lt. Leak:
Yes Sir.

Capt. McMurtry:
I'm Captain McMurtry. Welcome to the 308th

Lt. Leak:
Captain, uh, there must be some mistake. I'm supposed to be in a Texas unit. Most of these boys are from New York and I just don't understand a word these city fellers are sayin'.

Capt. McMurtry:
You don't have to understand them Lieutenant, they have to understand you.

Yoder:
Hey, how come you guys from New York call everybody "buddy"?

Lipasti:
You're not from the city?

Yoder:
From Bigfork, Montana.

Lipasti:
Never heard of it. I didn't know they let apple-knockers into this outfit.

Krotoshinsky:
He

Krotoshinsky:
thinks you might want to buy a bridge.

Yoder:
What bridge?

Lipasti:
The Brooklyn Bridge. What other bridge is there? What kind of an army is this, we come all the way to France and they stick us with boys from Daisyville.

Lt. Leak:
Morning Sir.

Maj. Whittlesey:
We don't salut up here Lieutenant.

Lt. Leak:
I'm sorry Sir.

Maj. Whittlesey:
My officers of men shave everyday.

Lt. Leak:
Oh, I'm sorry Sir.

Maj. Whittlesey:
You're sorry about a lot of things.

Lt. Leak:
Well, we got up here kinda late yesterday and...

Maj. Whittlesey:
Is that and excuse or an explanation? I'm not interested in either on. I want you and your platoon squared away, make sure your men have full rations, plenty of ammo. And wear that uniform properly. Put on dry socks if you have them and straighten your helmet. Oh and Lt. Leak, welcome to the 308th.

Cepheglia:
This is a French Cho-Cho

Rosen:
Chauchat

Cepheglia:
It's a piece of garbage, don't worry about it

Rosen:
Leave it to Henchman and Hollingshead.

Cepheglia:
Don't worry about mortars, tanks and artillery.

Rosen:
We don't have any of that either.

Cepheglia:
Basically we're mud crunchers,

Rosen:
gravel agitators,

Cepheglia:
infantry.

Krotoshinsky:
Where's the Cowboy going?

Lipasti:
He must know something.

Krotoshinsky:
You think so?

Lipasti:
He's from Roadville, he grew up around trees. You've ever been around trees?

Krotoshinsky:
They got trees in Union Square.

Lipasti:
Those don't count.

Maj. Prinz:
You Americans, you always have so much of everything. No matter. Eventually you have to surrender.

Lt. Leak:
I don't think so.

Maj. Prinz:
Are you officers so callous? You're surrounded. You have no chance of relief. Every night you send out patrols, and every night we kill them. We can hear the cries of your wounded Lieutenant. There is no dishonor in surrender.

Lt. Leak:
Maybe for you, but my guys are different.

Maj. Prinz:
What do you mean?

Lt. Leak:
What you're up against Major, is a bunch of Mick, Pollack, Dago, and Jew boy gangsters from New York City. They'll never surrender. Never.

Cepheglia:
It's done.

Rosen:
It's not done. Anyhow, why should I share this with you?

Cepheglia:
Because I killed the guy you took it off.

Rosen:
Minor detail.

Yoder:
Hey, how come nobody ever calls me Bob?

Cepheglia:
Who's Bob?

Rosen:
He's Bob you dumb Dago. Haven't you ever heard of a first name?

Cepheglia:
Your first name is Private. You're gonna be Private all your life Rosen. You'll never make Corporal.

Rosen:
All I wanna make is civilian.

Maj. Whittlesey:
Lieutenant Leak, fine officer, from Texas...

Capt. McMurtry:
We lost over 60 men to our own fire today. We heave less then 200 able troops left. I don't know how they keep doing it.

Maj. Whittlesey:
Don't sell them short, Captain. Two days ago we had a Chinese working our field-phone,an American-Indian for a runner; they're both dead now but that's not the point. These Italians, Irish, Jews, and Pols, they'd never hire me as an attorney; we wouldn't be seen at the same events. But we will never, in our lives, enjoy the company of finer soldiers or better men then we do tonight.

Capt. McMurtry:
Major, I was with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. And I have never served with a finer officer then you. Do you know that your men would do anything, go anywhere for you?

Maj. Whittlesey:
Thank you, George.