When Trumpets Fade

August, 1944.

the outcome of the second world war appeared

to be no longer in doubt.

Paris was liberated.

after four years of fighting,

victory against the germans seemed assured.

since the Normandy landings in June,

American and Allied forces had battled their way across Northern europe

and pushed the german enemy to within its own homeland.

* over there

* over there

* send the word, send the word, over there *

* that the yanks are coming

* the yanks are coming

* the drums, drums drumming everywhere *

* so beware

* say a prayer

* send the word, send the word to beware *

* we'll be over, we're coming over *

* and we won't come back till it's over, over there *

- the city of light rejoiced as it welcomed the troops.

marching down the champs elysees,

officers and men believed

that Berlin was within their reach,

and the word was that they would be home

in time for christmas.

but when the soldiers left Paris for the german border,

their hopes began to fade.

- i'm gonna make it. - you're gonna make it.

- i'm gonna make it. - you're gonna make it.

my lucky day.

it's your lucky day.

i got the luck.

you got it, Bobby.

this is nothin'!

it's walk in the park.

oh!

what's that, partner?

i get to go home.

you're goin' home, Bobby.

i'm goin' home.

Goddamn right.

i'm goin' home.

you know it, Bob!

hang in there, Bobby.

hang in there.

you can do this.

i can do this.

you're tough as nails.

nails.

not good enough, Bobby.

nails!

what about nails?

tough!

- that's right. they're fuckin' tough!

- Goddamn you! stick with it, Bobby!

fuckin' dig in, Bobby. come on, who's tough as nails?

me's tough.

- that's right, you tough. tough as what?

nails.

- that's right. now say it!

tough as nails!

- you're goddamned right, you're tough as nails.

aah!

- come on, stay with us, Bobby.

it hurts!

- i know. it's less than a mile.

less than a mile to go.

it's too far.

- no, it ain't. it ain't too far.

not gonna make it.

can that shit!

gonna die!

- cut it, you're gonna make it!

i'm gonna...

you're gonna make it.

make it.

you're damn right!

listen, Bobby, i gotta rest for a minute, ok?

ok, Bob?

shit!

Bobby.

stop it! stop it! stop it!

stop it!

Bobby, stop it!

Bobby! Bobby!

welcome back, motherfucker.

promise me you won't pick me up no more.

it hurts.

don't--don't pick me up anymore.

listen, Bob,

if i leave you, ain't nobody gonna find you.

you're gonna die out here.

just sit here for a bit.

i am dying.

Bob, we can't sit here.

so, i gotta pick you up,

and i gotta get you out of here.

- no. - come on.

- no! no! - let's go.

no more! no more!

- all right! all right! all right, all right, relax.

relax. relax.

no more, please.

- fine. i'm not-- i'm not gonna touch you.

- no more. - ok, just relax.

just relax.

no more.

just relax.

no more.

no more.

no more.

no more.

you're not gonna leave, are you?

got no choice, Bob.

ok.

David...

don't leave me here like this.

please don't leave me here like this.

don't you leave me here!

David!

David, don't leave me here like this!

stop it!

don't leave me here.

David.

- all right, get out of here.

- grab my hand, buddy. there you go.

let's go.

1,2,3, push!

- we need more bandages. hurry it up!

come on, get up.

- move that truck out of there!

where's "C" company?

you kidding?

uhh!

- easy there, buddy. hang in there.

Chamberlain.

grab an end!

- Captain Pritchett's been lookin' for anybody from your platoon.

where is he?

back at HQ.

i'm headin' that direction if you want a lift.

get down!

take cover!

you're all right.

you're all right.

shit!

you're all right.

- oh, my God! oh, God! oh...

- why do they leave them there like that?

fuckin' brass.

they don't wanna waste the trucks on the dead.

they still got more guys to haul in for the slaughter.

no more room in hell.

what are you talkin' about?

there's plenty of room.

all they gotta do is stack 'em higher.

how many do you think?

hundreds.

that's just in the last five days.

how can they let this happen

and still pretend to be human beings?

i haven't seen one of those sick fucks

over the rank of Captain here since i been up here.

they're lookin' at points on a map.

not one of them has a fuckin' clue what's goin' on up here.

shit flows down.

goddamned right.

regiment wipes its ass with battalion,

battalion wipes its ass clean with company,

and we're left to lick the shit off of them.

mark my words,

they're gonna keep sendin' us in

until the whole fuckin' division is gone.

not me, bedpan.

Captain Pritchett, sir?

you have a private Manning here.

all right.

you Manning?

i think so.

- give him a straight answer, private.

relax.

you can stop looking for your platoon.

they didn't make it.

what?

- looks like you're the only one who made it out.

your lucky day.

lucky day?

you're alive.

am i?

- if you don't put a sock in it, private--

you're gonna what?

can it! both of you!

Lukas, take a walk.

fuckin' greenie.

you better get used to him,

he's your new platoon leader.

he'll be dead in a week.

tell me something.

have you got your shit together?