Guadalcanal Diary (1943)

Lloyd Nolan: Sgt. Hook Malone

Photos 

Quotes 

• Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : [In dugout waiting out a heavy artillery barrage]  I don't mind the one with my name on it. It's the one that says, 'To whom it may concern' that I don't like.

  [after the barrage increases] 

  Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : They're throwing everything at us but the kitchen stove.

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : [after an even louder explosion]  That's the stove now!

• Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : Hey, Tex.

  Pvt. Tex Mcllvoy : Yeah?

  Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : Hot, ain't it?

  Pvt. Tex Mcllvoy : Yeah. Hotter'n a Texas cattle call in August.

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : So you think it's hot, do ya?

  Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : Yeah.

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : How'd you like a nice tall glass of ice cold beer?

  Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : Beer! Strictly a middle class beverage. The last time I was back in Brooklyn, there was just such a night as this. We was havin' cocktails. My old lady brought 'em in, I took one taste, and boy what a kick. You know what she did?

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : What?

  Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : She took 'em out and put in another slug of gin.

  [smiles] 

  Cpl. Aloysius T. 'Taxi' Potts : What a sweet old lady.

• Pvt. Johnny 'Chicken' Anderson : Hey Hook?

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : Yeah.

  Pvt. Johnny 'Chicken' Anderson : How do you feel about killing... people?

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : Well, it's kill or be killed, ain't it? Besides, those ain't people.

  Pvt. Johnny 'Chicken' Anderson : Yeah, I know, but the first time you got one of 'em.

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : Well, it was kinda rugged I guess, then it's just a matter of repetition. Quit thinking about it. You'll go crazy.

• Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : [briefing the Marines aboard the transport ship on the way to Guadalcanal]  Most of you guys have never had any experience in the jungle before, and the Japs have. Plenty. So let me give you a word of advice: keep your mouths shut. Stop yelling your head off. We can beat 'em at their own game of silence if we try, but... well, you know how Marines are. Some dope'll yell, "Hey, Mac. Is that C company over there?"

  [some of the men laugh] 

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : Hey, now, it isn't funny. Don't laugh. If any of you guys start running over to see if C company *is* over there, what kind of chow C company's having, you're liable to end up chow yourself.

• Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : [briefing fellow Marines prior to landing on Guadalcanal]  Keep an eye out for snipers all the time. See a bunch of bananas in a coconut tree, shoot 'em down. That makes sense, don't it?

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : [continues]  And one more thing: watch out for booby traps. Don't go around picking up any helmets or anything else the Japs leave layin' around.

  Pvt. Johnny 'Chicken' Anderson : Yeah, but supposin' you promised a certain party a souvenir?

  Gunnery Sgt. Hook Malone : Just forget about it. You're liable to find it's been rigged up with wiring and it'll blow up right in your kisser. See any .45 with a beautiful pearl handle, leave it lay.