JW 34 - They Were Expendable Traditional Cache
JW 34 - They Were Expendable
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This series is a tribute to John Wayne's film career. We have enjoyed MANY hours watching him in both western and military films.
Micro cache, bring your own pencil. Watch out for desert critters.
They Were Expendable is a 1945 American war film directed by John Ford and starring Robert Montgomery and John Wayne and featuring Donna Reed. The film is based on the book by William L. White, relating the story of the exploits of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, a PT boat unit defending the Philippines against Japanese invasion during the Battle of the Philippines 1941-42 in World War II. It features the unit's commanding officer and Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley and Lieutenant (j.g.) Robert Kelly one of his boat skippers. A demonstration of the capabilities of PT boats is shown in Manila Bay, Philippines in December 1941. Lt.(j.g.) 'Rusty' Ryan (John Wayne) becomes disgusted when his superiors refuse to see the small boats as viable naval craft and is in the process of writing his request for a transfer to destroyers when news arrives of the Japanese attack on Peral Harbor. Ryan and Lt. John Brickley's (Robert Montgomery) demands for combat assignments for their squadron are frustrated for a time, but they are eventually allowed to show their capabilities. From there on, there are mostly 'action' scenes, with the exception of Ryan's romantic interludes with Army nurse Sandy Davyss (Donna Reed). With the mounting Japanese onslaught against the doomed American garrisons at Bataan and Corregidor, the squadron is sent to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur, his family, and a party of VIPs. This done, they resume their attacks against the Japanese, who gradually whittle down the squadron. As boats are lost, their crews are sent to fight as infantry. Finally, the last boat is turned over to the Army for messenger duty. Brickley, Ryan and two ensigns are airlifted out on one of the last planes because the PT boats have proved their worth and they are needed stateside to train replacement PT boat officers and crews.
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