Air Force -- December 7, 2018

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77 years ago a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

Air Force was a Warner Brothers' movie released in 1943.  The story follows the crew of Mary-Ann, a B-17 being delivered to Hawaii from the mainland.  They arrive during the attack.  They are able to refuel, but have to leave immediately for Wake Island.  They arrive at Wake while it is under attack.  The Marines ask the crew to take their dog, Tripod.

They move on to Clark Field in the Philippines, which is also under attack.  Harry Carey, the crew chief, learns that his son has been killed.  Mary-Ann is damaged trying to attack Japanese ships, and the pilot is badly injured.  He orders the crew to bail out, but John Garfield, who had washed out of pilot training, brings Mary-Ann back to the base.  I cry during the scene where the crew is with the dying pilot in the hospital and they go through a takeoff procedure.

They rush to repair the airplane, defying an order to burn it.  They take off for Australia, but spot a Japanese fleet.  They radio their position and keep track of the fleet until allied bombers arrive to attack.

At the end, surviving members of the crew are preparing to go on a mission to bomb Tokyo.

I watch this movie every chance I get.

Pride of the Marines -- November 11, 2017

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Happy Veterans Day, everyone.  Pride of the Marines told the true story of veteran Al Schmid, who was played by John Garfield.  Schmid was a cocky steelworker who resisted the idea of getting married until he met Ruth, played by Eleanor Parker.  Al volunteered for the Marine Corps.  At the Battle of the Tenaru, part of the larger Battle of Guadalcanal, Al and his friends Lee and Johnny, played by Dane Clark and Anthony Caruso, were a machine gun crew.  When the Japanese attacked, Johnny was killed, but Al and Lee kept fighting.  Al was blinded by a Japanese grenade, but kept shooting while Lee told him where to shoot.  Al returns to the States still blind.  He goes through rehabilitation and learns how to live with his blindness, but he doesn't want Ruth to know.  He tries to break up with her, but she won't cooperate.  She helps him realize that he should not be bitter, and should get on with his life.  Great movie.