- 5 months ago
Nautilus (SS-168) USS Nautilus is brought in for close observation duty along the Tarawa shoreline, between the guns of the American attack force and the Japanese shore batteries. The Nautilus is hit by a shell from an American destroyer. The shell fails to explode and must be removed. Two brothers from rival services show courage and new-found understanding when they are forced to work together to prevent the shell from exploding.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dyke as retired.
00:29I think the story you're about to see is important because of the point it makes concerning America's fighting man.
00:36Certainly the basic ingredients of courage, intelligence, and equipment play vital roles in combat.
00:43But the one factor too often overlooked is understanding, a mutual appreciation of each other's problems,
00:49even though the natural fighting sphere of each may be totally different.
00:54The case in point is exemplified by the events on a patrol of the USS Nautilus.
01:06This is our story's starting place, the Hawaiian Islands.
01:11Pearl Harbor in the fall of 1943.
01:14Home base of the Submarine Force Pacific Fleet, which was quickly proving its worth against a formidable enemy.
01:21The USS Nautilus, one of the ships of that fleet, was in for refitting after a hazardous mission.
01:27Hardly anything new for the Nautilus.
01:30Pretty good refit, Captain.
01:32Not bad.
01:34Almost as good as new, I'd say.
01:37It's gonna happen.
01:39I know that tone.
01:41It says, ask no questions.
01:43The Captain, Commander William D. Irvin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
01:48and his Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander R. B. Lynch of Citronelle, Alabama,
01:53were two very good reasons for the impressive record of the Nautilus.
01:57And that record was about to become even more impressive.
02:00Come on already, let it go!
02:10Don't rattle me.
02:12Step softly, men.
02:13Johnny Landon, gunner's mate of the Nautilus, is shooting.
02:17That ain't no deck gun, Pappy.
02:20Knock it off, Lenny.
02:21Did I needle you when you were shooting?
02:23I can still win.
02:25A reduction like that, because I'm two bits ahead.
02:28It ain't the money.
02:30I know.
02:32Johnny, if there's a better guy around, I never saw him.
02:35But you got a thing about winning that throws me.
02:38Absolutely fractures me.
02:39Everybody likes to win.
02:41Oh, not like you.
02:42With you, it's a mania.
02:45Who's making the production now?
02:47Come on, you know what I'm talking about.
02:49Everything you do, you gotta win.
02:51Gotta be the best.
02:53Like this.
02:54Any other guy would just be killing time.
02:57Relaxing.
02:58But not you.
03:00Stinking pinball game, that's all it is.
03:03And yet you gotta beat me.
03:05You ain't gonna talk me out of winning.
03:17800, you still lose.
03:19I'm tired of playing anyway.
03:21Let's go back to the ship.
03:22Look, Johnny, you lost the game.
03:25Came in second best.
03:27Big deal.
03:28Did it hurt?
03:29Change anything?
03:30Okay, stop with the curbstone analysis.
03:33It's illegal without a doctor's license.
03:35Let's go back to the ship.
03:36I'll play your game of acey-ducey.
03:38I know I can take you.
03:39Come on.
03:48How about three out of five?
03:49That way you know who's the best player.
03:51Hey, look.
03:52How about that for a weird sight?
03:54Marines.
03:55What are they doing on the Nautilus?
03:57I wonder.
03:58What company?
03:59What company?
04:00I don't know.
04:03Are they getting settled below all right?
04:05Kane and Tully are handling them, sir.
04:07They'll be crowded, but we'll manage.
04:09It'll be just as crowded for them, Ozzy.
04:13Well, we got a long way to go and a lot of work to do.
04:15We'll shove off as soon as everyone's aboard.
04:17Aye, aye, sir.
04:29That's not going to help you on a sub, mister.
04:30Johnny!
04:31Johnny!
04:32What are you doing?
04:33Are you on this tub?
04:34You kidding?
04:35Captain, don't make a move without me.
04:36Oh, Lenny Greer, my brother Lou.
04:37Hi.
04:38How are you?
04:39Well, what do you know about this?
04:40My own little brother...
04:41Oh, I'm sorry, kid.
04:42It slipped out.
04:43It's been a long time.
04:44Sure, Lou.
04:45Oh, it's great to see you.
04:46Just great.
04:47What's all this about?
04:48Well, who knows?
04:49They told us to pay attention.
04:50Oh, I'm sorry, kid.
04:51It slipped out.
04:52It's been a long time.
04:53Sure, Lou.
04:54Oh, it's great to see you.
04:55Just great.
04:57What's all this about?
04:59Let's pack up and here we are.
05:00Looks like you guys are going to give us a lift someplace.
05:02Great.
05:03Maybe you'll see how a real outfit works now.
05:05Well, you haven't changed a bit, have you, Johnny?
05:08Come on, give me a hand with this gear, will ya?
05:11Less than one hour later, the USS Nautilus moved quietly away from the docks of Pearl Harbor,
05:18heading southwest across the Pacific.
05:21In addition to a full complement of 102 officers and men,
05:26she carried 78 guests.
05:29They were officers and men of the 5th Corps.
05:33Every man aboard shared one thought in particular,
05:36that the Nautilus was headed into something important, something big.
05:40But only one man really knew.
05:43Knew the full size of the job to come and the risks involved.
05:47Well, that's the deal.
05:49Sounds big, Captain.
05:50It would hardly be any bigger.
05:52Full scale attack on Tarawa.
05:54Combined land, sea and air operation.
05:56We're just one part of it.
05:57Our big job is to land those marines on Apomama.
06:00You mean there's more?
06:02The marines are just the last part of it.
06:04There's a strike at Baitio first.
06:06We draw observation duty there.
06:08I guess somebody's got to do it.
06:10Yeah, but there's a hook this time.
06:12Just take a close look at that operation order in chart.
06:15There's going to be a lot of ships in the Baitio area.
06:17Our orders prevent us from firing, but we won't be immune to attack.
06:22Sitting duck.
06:25The polite term is observation duty.
06:29The Nautilus was indeed only one part of the attack being redded against Tarawa.
06:34And all component parts of the operation moved steadily to the assigned parts of the battle area.
06:43But no matter how varied the equipment or how plentiful,
06:46in the last analysis it is always the men upon whom the battle depends.
06:50And as fighting men know, one of the worst parts of battle is often the waiting.
06:55Aboard the Nautilus there was plenty of that.
06:59Are you going to play it or not?
07:02I'm sorry.
07:04I guess it's this heat.
07:06Ten days is a long time to be cooped up.
07:09Get him.
07:11You've never had it so good.
07:13A taxi ride all the way to ringside.
07:16If it weren't fresh, you'd be walking.
07:18Oh, look. What's bugging you, Johnny?
07:20Me? He said the...
07:21All he said was that it's hot.
07:23It is. Now why do you have to go making a great big
07:25my father can lick your father thing out of it?
07:27Oh, the heat makes everyone edgy.
07:29Well, let's play, huh?
07:31Still your play.
07:35Guess my luck's working.
07:37You sure got the touch, Marine.
07:39You're beating our brains out.
07:43That's enough for me.
07:45I've got some other things to do.
07:49What's the matter with your brother, Lou?
07:51Did I say anything?
07:53No.
07:54What's bothering him was said a long time ago.
08:02I guess that makes two of us who can't sleep, huh?
08:07You know, you don't have to be a mind reader to spot a guy who's got something bugging him.
08:10You know, one time I took a correspondence course in how to be a private detective.
08:18It was great for deducing things, you know, when something like this.
08:22You're Johnny's buddy?
08:24Presto, you're worried about Johnny.
08:26Pretty good course.
08:30What makes him do it, Lou?
08:32A great guy, except he competes.
08:34Makes a career.
08:37You like oatmeal, he likes cornflakes.
08:40You like bowling, he's got to push billiards.
08:43I'm a Marine.
08:45So he's got to break his back trying to prove that Sub's got it all over the Marines.
08:49With him, nobody rests, just competes.
08:53Even when there's no competition.
08:55It's just the way he is, I guess.
08:58But why?
09:00I don't know, I guess maybe I got some of the blame coming for that.
09:05I'm his older brother.
09:07Things come pretty easy.
09:09Johnny's always figured that he's had to top me.
09:12He's never stopped trying.
09:16I guess tomorrow we go out and see some daylight, huh?
09:19Now let's go hit the sack, I'd like to be ready.
09:21They two should be sitting out there.
09:35Level off at Periscope, Beth.
09:37I have props up there, pretty far away.
09:39You'll hear plenty of them.
09:4160 feet.
09:42Upscope.
09:5180 feet.
09:5260 feet.
09:53Yeah.
10:11Let's go.
10:18Captain.
10:19HCO's out there all right, and our boys are pounding it good, but we've got us a problem.
10:24We've got to wait till it's over to make our observations.
10:27If the attack goes on too long.
10:29That's the rub.
10:30We'd be late at Abamama, upset the time schedule,
10:33and coming in late, we might just walk into the fire of the guns of our own fleet.
10:37Nice choice.
10:38What do we do?
10:40No choice.
10:41The assault force tomorrow needs those observations.
10:44We wait.
10:49Through the long day, the Nautilus lay offshore, waiting for the attacking force to complete its work.
10:59Every passing moment added to the task facing Captain Urban,
11:02and daylight was fading when the assault was finally over.
11:05All surface craft have pulled out.
11:07Wish we were going with them.
11:09Any daylight left, Captain?
11:11Not much, but it'll have to do.
11:13Assault force still needs that information.
11:16Steady, our new course 180.
11:17Steady, 180.
11:21It's going to take time, but it's got to be done.
11:24And while submerged, there may still be some fight left on that island.
11:28It did take time.
11:30Cruising slowly at periscope depth approximately 800 yards off the beach line,
11:34Captain Urban gathered his information in the only way left open to him.
11:38What he saw was anything but reassuring.
11:41The damage done by the attacking force, not nearly as extensive as hoped for.
11:47Obstructions such as traps and nets were still in place and formidable.
11:51A steel observation tower was still standing.
11:54Many pillboxes appeared to be completely undamaged and ready to give a good account of themselves when the next assault came.
12:00It was indeed important information.
12:03It's a rough island.
12:07It's still a problem.
12:08Yeah, we had to get this, but it really put us in a bind.
12:11We've got to get out of here and get this report off, but look.
12:14Here's us.
12:16To the west, carriers, cruisers, and destroyers.
12:19To the east, 50 to 60 assault ships.
12:21Keyed up for the Mars landings and trigger happy.
12:24Tarawa boxes us off to the north and this atoll to the south.
12:28Stop it all off.
12:29We're running way behind.
12:30It's getting real dark, Captain.
12:31Now that's the point.
12:32Our own ships will think we're enemy now.
12:35We'll run submerged till we get out of range of the shore guns.
12:38Batteries are low.
12:39We could use a charge.
12:40We could use a lot of things.
12:42But we need most as luck.
12:43They knew that the destroyer probing with her sound search gear above them was one of ours,
12:57and it had them worried.
12:59Our destroyers were less liable to miss in an attack.
13:05Fortunately, she failed to detect them and steamed away.
13:07All he says, we've got to have a battery charge now, sir.
13:21We'd better go on up then.
13:23What's the identification signal for 10 o'clock?
13:25I just looked it up.
13:26It's a green star.
13:27I want to tell him that signal to run up on the bridge with me,
13:30and tell him to be sure to check the color.
13:32Aye, aye, sir.
13:37How do we need it?
13:53No sense of disclosing our position before we have to.
13:56No, sir.
13:57You sure you check the color?
13:59Just did, sir. It's green.
14:01An airlock color, and it's goodbye ballgame.
14:04That light below can fool you.
14:05It's green, sir.
14:07I got the observation report off, sir.
14:11Well, that's one job done.
14:13Make out anything?
14:14Not even white caps.
14:16Don't hear any sound of surf.
14:18It would help.
14:19It's near that reef, and we've got trouble.
14:24Fire that rocket.
14:29It's red.
14:30It was green.
14:31It was green.
14:31I checked it.
14:32Clear the bridge.
14:33Clear the bridge.
14:33Go drive.
14:34Let's go.
14:36Get out.
14:37Start running.
14:40Out.
14:43Get out.
14:49Get out.
14:50I've dropped to theisters.
14:50He's on the ground.
14:50The same.
15:03Connors! The voice tube.
15:09Stand it, sir!
15:10Connors!
15:14Get a damage report from all compartments.
15:16Aye, aye, sir.
15:20Get out of here.
15:26It's not in the book.
15:30Damage?
15:31Water coming through cracks in the pressure hole, Captain.
15:33Bad.
15:34It's worse in the motor room.
15:35It's all water line broken.
15:36Motor room bill just flooding rapidly.
15:38We're very heavy afts, sir.
15:40Well, if the pumps can't handle it, you'd better get a bucket brigade working.
15:43Aye, aye, sir.
15:44How are you coming, Anderson?
15:46Trashers building up, sir!
15:49But use a shove!
15:50Connors, help them.
15:51Yes, sir!
15:57Oh, you and your ideas!
16:00What you're doing ain't in the book either!
16:05You still hear us?
16:07I just wanted to tell you the gyro compass is acting erratic, sir.
16:10Well, if you really want to worry, start thinking about that shell lodged in the superstructure.
16:14That's a dud, Captain.
16:15Yeah, but there's no way of telling how long it's going to stay one.
16:17It's funny bits!
16:22They keep changing to bit players, but the star don't even get a rest!
16:26What are you trying to do?
16:28Push me into this?
16:29Got the leak in the motor room stop, sir.
16:33Pump's going full blast.
16:35Bucket brigade working anyway.
16:36Two hundred feet.
16:37Theoretically enough to crush the hull.
16:38I never did like theory.
16:39Two hundred and ten feet.
16:40It's going to be all right.
16:41She's inching back up.
16:42Still stern heavies, huh?
16:43One miracle at a time.
16:45We're going to take a look at the men.
16:46See how they're taking them.
16:47Do anything for you, Captain?
16:48Just wanted the men to know there's nothing to be concerned about.
16:49We'll be up on the surface soon.
16:50Nothing at all to be upset about.
16:51You're not upset, are you, Sergeant?
16:52Well, putting it this way, Captain, I'm not upset.
16:54But this is a wildfire.
16:55It's going to be all right.
16:56It's going to be all right.
16:57It's going to be all right.
16:58She's inching back up.
16:59Still stern heavies, huh?
17:00One miracle at a time.
17:01We're going to take a look at the men.
17:02See how they're taking them.
17:07Do anything for you, Captain?
17:08Just wanted the men to know there's nothing to be concerned about.
17:11We'll be up on the surface soon.
17:13Nothing at all to be upset about.
17:15You're not upset, are you, Sergeant?
17:17Well, putting it this way, Captain, I'm not upset.
17:20But this is the wildest place to try and dig a foxhole.
17:29Gyro's definitely okay, Captain.
17:31Pumps are getting better control.
17:33Things are looking up.
17:34Who's kidding who, Ozzy?
17:36Shell in the superstructure.
17:38May never go or go any minute.
17:39I can't gamble with so many men aboard.
17:41It's got to be disarmed.
17:42Maybe the Marines carry an ammo expert.
17:44Nope, I checked.
17:46How about our crew?
17:47I checked, too.
17:48Polly says there's a kid named Landon.
17:54Johnny Landon, gunner's mate, knows his stuff.
17:56I can't order this.
17:57It's a volunteer job.
17:58This boy will volunteer.
18:00All you have to say is someone can do it better.
18:11Minutes after the Nautilus broke surface,
18:13the delicate job of disarming the shell in the superstructure was begun.
18:17There was only one way to reach it,
18:19just as there was but a single way to disarm it.
18:22All Captain Irvin could lend now was encouragement.
18:25The Nautilus and every life aboard her were in the hands of a young boy.
18:29All right, sir?
18:30Yes, sir.
18:31All right, sir?
18:32Yes, sir.
18:33Yes, sir.
18:34All right, sir.
18:51All right, sir.
18:53Yes, sir.
18:54I'm sorry, sir.
19:19Take your time, sir.
19:20You'll make it.
19:24It's moving, son.
19:34Steady.
19:36Steady.
19:54Good boy, Jim.
20:08Captain, I don't even want this for a souvenir.
20:14You look like a guy who's got problems instead of a hero.
20:25Thinking.
20:28Look at that thing with the shell.
20:32There wasn't a guy aboard who didn't seem proud of me, who didn't make a fuss.
20:35If somebody else had done it instead of me, I'd have been jealous.
20:43What's wrong with me, Lou?
20:46Took more guts to admit that than it did to disarm that shell.
20:50There's nothing wrong with you, Johnny.
20:52It just takes some guys a little longer to grow up, that's all.
20:55And I think you just took the fuse out of that problem, too.
20:57Less than 24 hours later, the Nautilus lay off its destination, the island of Athamana.
21:09But even now, her job was not over.
21:11She was to remain in the area should the Marines need additional food, ammunition, or any other kind of help.
21:17They're all in the boats, Captain.
21:24They're good men.
21:26We've got some pretty good men, too.
21:29I had to refuse eight who wanted to go ashore and fight alongside the Marines.
21:35For two days, those aboard the Nautilus waited.
21:38Two anxious days, without word from the Marines.
21:41And then contact was made, and a request.
21:44The Nautilus could be of inestimable help by bombarding with her deck guns, which she helped.
21:50She helped, and the accuracy of her fire freed the pin-down Marines,
21:54and allowed them to move ahead, to get on with the job they'd come so far to do.
21:59That night, two wounded men were brought back to the Nautilus.
22:02Lou Landon was one of them.
22:06Stop worrying, will you?
22:08Sure, sure.
22:10Try and stay with it, Hondo.
22:12Well, I didn't come this far for nothing.
22:16You're going to make it, Lou, I know.
22:18Try and look at me.
22:23Things will work out, Johnny.
22:25How's it coming, Landon?
22:27I was just telling him.
22:29I'll make it.
22:30We want to make sure of it.
22:32We've located a hospital ship in the area, and we're heading for it.
22:36They'll really take care of you.
22:39Thanks.
22:40Stay with him, Johnny.
22:41That's an order.
22:43Aye, sir.
22:46See, Johnny?
22:48Things will work out.
22:50It's just a matter of letting them.
22:55But the real end of the Nautilus story came later,
22:57after the Nautilus had returned to her base at Pearl Harbor.
23:00The scene was the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, where fighting submarinas were given two week rest periods before being sent back to battle.
23:09This time, the procedure was slightly varied.
23:11Oh, hi, Ozzy.
23:16Captain.
23:17Heard we had a slight fuss in the hotel last night.
23:19What happened?
23:20We got us quite a crew.
23:22I figure those Marines went the whole patrol with us, or just as entitled to luxury as they are.
23:26I've got to admit, I'd go along with them.
23:28So they tried to check a third of them in as crew members.
23:31How'd they do that?
23:31We only had so many rooms.
23:33Get this.
23:33A third of the crew went out to Marine barracks to live in their place.
23:36How do you like that?
23:37What do you know?
23:37Well, they deserve a rest, Captain.
23:40Can't we do something?
23:41I just did.
23:42I spoke to Admiral Lockwood.
23:43He's having the whole crew move into the hotel and all the Marines.
23:48What is it?
23:48I was just thinking about the poor enemy.
23:50Poor?
23:51Sure, that's the word.
23:52They haven't got a chance.
23:54Not against men like that.
23:58I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
24:01You've just seen the story of the Nautilus' most unusual war patrol.
24:10Now I'd like to introduce the man who was actually her executive officer, Captain R.B. Lynch, United States Navy.
24:16Wonderful to see you, Ozzie.
24:17An amazing story.
24:19They were pretty amazing men.
24:21All of them.
24:22You know, at dinner last night, you said something about the American fighting man that really impressed me.
24:27Mind repeating it?
24:28Well, simply that few of them ever bothered to assess their own value, but they sure recognize it fast in the next fellow.
24:37Understanding covers better than anything else, I guess.
24:40Sure makes them work together.
24:42That's about as well as I've ever heard it put.
24:45And you're certainly not going to get any argument out of me.
24:48Didn't think I would.
24:50Ozzie, I want to thank you for providing us this exciting story and for taking the time to come over in person.
24:56It's been a pleasure.
24:58Be with us again next week when the silent service brings you another exciting submarine story.
25:04Take her down, let's hop in line.
25:09Through the deep blue under the ocean.
25:14We'll control the ocean's wide.
25:18From down, down, underneath the sea.
25:22Take her down, down, down, down, go down, down, underneath the ocean.
25:47There was men who will find freedom in the deep blue underneath the sea.
25:55Take her down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down.
26:01You
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