The Lost Battalion movie plot
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Capt. Nelson Holderman - Co. K, 307th: Captain McMurtry was telling me you used to be a lawyer before the war.
Maj. Whittlesey: Yes, I was. I, uh, dealt with contracts and regulations.
Capt. Nelson Holderman - Co. K, 307th: You know, Major, uh... people like me and McMurtry, we're professional soldiers. You know, if we weren't here, we'd be someplace else. But you could be in legal affairs, Sir, on the General's staff.
Maj. Whittlesey: I don't think I'd enjoy working with General Alexander.
Capt. Nelson Holderman - Co. K, 307th: You don't think we should be here, do you?
Maj. Whittlesey: No.
Capt. Nelson Holderman - Co. K, 307th: Well, given that's the way that you feel, why are you here?
Maj. Whittlesey: Huh. Life would be a lot simpler if we could choose our duties and obligations. But we can't. We shouldn't. That's why I'm here.
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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.