The Lost Battalion (2001 TV Movie)

Phil McKee: Capt. George McMurtry

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Quotes 

• 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.

• 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 Poles, 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.

• Capt. McMurtry : What's your name?

  Lipasti : Private Lipasti, sir.

  Capt. McMurtry : Where'd you learn to run like that?

  Lipasti : I used to take a shortcut home through a Mick neighborhood, had to outrun a lotta your "Irish confetti", sir.

  Capt. McMurtry : Well, I'm glad one of my cousins didn't bean you with a brick.

• Capt. McMurtry : Lieutenant.

  Lt. Leak : Captain.

  Capt. McMurtry : The Major lay into you today?

  Lt. Leak : Like a hot brandin' iron. He West Point?

  Capt. McMurtry : New York lawyer.

  Lt. Leak : You never know, do ya?

  Capt. McMurtry : No, you never do. Boy, we really lucked out, didn't we. It would be a hell of a thing to come all the way to France and not having anything to tell our children and grandchildren about. Now, tomorrow... when you go over the top. You pick a point straight ahead and you walk to it. Now don't worry about where everybody else is. These are good men. They'll follow you. Now you go ten yards, then ten more.

  Lt. Leak : Ten yards?

  Capt. McMurtry : Ten yards at a time, and you can make the whole trip that way.

  Lt. Leak : What about the Germans?

  Capt. McMurtry : The boys know what to do with them. You'll figure it out pretty damn quick.

  Lt. Leak : Most of my men have never been in combat before.

  Capt. McMurtry : Yeah, we planned it that way. You've never been in a fight, have you?

  Lt. Leak : Nothin' like this.

  Capt. McMurtry : That's why you walk in front of the troops. See, you'll get there before they do. That means you'll be the one with the most experience. You can tell them what to do.

  Lt. Leak : Yeah. That's right. Ain't it?

  Capt. McMurtry : You'll do just fine.