They Were Expendable: Difference between revisions

The Japanese navy and army descend on the Philippines and wreak havoc. Bypassed by local brass, Brick's squadron is kept out of combat and marginalized to menial mail and messenger duty. Frustration, particularly with Rusty, grows and threatens to boil over. Following a devastating attack on their base their superior finally has no choice but to order them to attack a large Japanese [[cruiser]] shelling U.S troop emplacements ashore. After initially choosing Rusty to skipper the second boat on the sortie Brick discovers that his exec has [[sepsis|blood poisoning]] from a previous combat wound and orders Rusty to sick bay, selecting another boat to take his place. After accusing his [[commanding officer|CO]] of glory hogging and resisting evacuation to a military hospital on Corregidor, Rusty arrives there hissing and spitting, only to reluctantly let in the severity of his life-threatening condition. There he meets another patient, "Ohio" ([[Louis Jean Heydt]]), who chides him to get in line. Once he does, Rusty begins a romance with strong-willed [[United States Army Nurse Corps|Army nurse]] Sandy Davyss ([[Donna Reed]]), so outwardly attractive and wholesomely appealing Ohio chides, "Eleven-thousand men can't be wrong about her". Brick's attack sinks the cruiser, after which, with Rusty back, the squadron is unleashed, achieving increasing success, though at the cost both of boats and men. Still, it is only a matter of time before the Philippines fall. Sandy attends a dinner in her honor at the PT Base, reigniting the flame between her and Rusty.

With the mounting Japanese onslaught against the doomed American defenders at [[Battle of Bataan|Bataan]] and on [[Battle of Corregidor|Corregidor]], the squadron is assigned to [[Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines|evacuate]] the commanding general of the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theatre]], [[Douglas MacArthur]], his family, and others to [[Mindanao]], where they will be flown to Australia. Rusty manages to make a last phone call to Sandy, now on Bataan, to explain he has been ordered out, but before they can say goodbye the connection is cut off. The small flotilla successfully carries MacArthur to his rendezvous across spans of open ocean to his rendezvous. They then resume their attacks against the Japanese, who gradually whittle the squadron down too small to function effectively. Crews without boats are sent to link up with the Army and fight as infantry. TheAfter finalRusty's boat is damaged the last two PTs pull into a small shipyard run by crusty "Dad" Knowland ([[Russell Simpson (actor)|Russell Simpson]]) for repairs. TheAs Japanesethe troopsboats areleave approachingin buthaste Dadahead saysof theyan willimminent haveJapanese toapproach fightDad refuses to getflee, him. He is last seen sitting on the steps ofbidding his home with afarewell rifle across hisin laparms and whisky jug tucked securely at his feet,. grimly awaiting his fate.

In a final PT-boatassault that destroys another threatening attackcruiser Rusty's boat is sunk, after which the surviving craft is turned over to the US Army, once again reduced to messenger duty. Brick, Ryan and two ensigns are ordered to be airlifted out on the last plane, assigned stateside to train PT crews, the small, inexpensive wood-hulled boats having proved their worth in combat. While waiting for the plane Rusty runs into Ohio. Neither knows what happened to Sandy, trapped behind on Bataan. They speculateallow thatthemselves sheto mighthope haveshe escaped to the hills, buteach arehelping notthe optimistic.other to Whenavoid oneconfronting ofher likely dark fate. When the ensigns finally arrivesarrive late Rusty bolts for the door, but is brought to heel by Brickley, who reminds him his duty comes first. Ohio is forced to give up his seat on the plane and is left behind to certain death or capture.