The Lost Battalion (2001 TV Movie)

Ricky Schroder: Maj. Charles White Whittlesey

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Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Gen. Robert Alexander : Major Whittlesey, there's going to be promotions and commondations for everybody! No wonder our airplanes couldn't find this place.

  Lipasti : Well... your artillery certainly found it, General.

  Gen. Robert Alexander : [to Whittlesey]  Where's the rest of your battallion?

  Maj. Whittlesey : [Whittlesee hands the General the collection of dog-tags]  Sgt. Gaedeke we couldn't find enough to bury. Lt. Schenck's platoon is somewhere out there. I sent him to link with the French you said were on our flank, General.

  Gen. Robert Alexander : [pulls Whittlesey aside]  These are acceptable losses...

  Maj. Whittlesey : Not to me, sir.

  Gen. Robert Alexander : I understand your feelings for your men.

  Maj. Whittlesey : You said our flanks were supported and you ordered my men to attack. You said supply would catch up to us... which it did not! Is that acceptable to you?

  Gen. Robert Alexander : Yes, that's acceptable to me. We were able to break through the German line because you held on here... because you held on here like a thorn in their belly. Major, you did an incredible job out here, but you had 600 men to worry about and I had 20,000 sent into action. I have to live with that...

  [pause] 

  Gen. Robert Alexander : I sent for trucks to bring your men back. They've been through hell.

  Maj. Whittlesey : You'll never know what they've been through, or what they can and can't do. They're better then you, General. They're better then me, they always are.

  Gen. Robert Alexander : Let me take you and your officers back in my staff car.

  Maj. Whittlesey : That's not acceptable, Sir. I'll stay with my men.

  Gen. Robert Alexander : I understand.

  Maj. Whittlesey : [the General salutes and Whittlesey just turns away]  Men, we're moving out!

• 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.

• Lt. Leak : Morning, sir.

  Maj. Whittlesey : We don't salut up here Lieutenant.

  Lt. Leak : I'm sorry, sir.

  Maj. Whittlesey : My officers of men shave everyday.

  Lt. Leak : Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

  Maj. Whittlesey : You're sorry about a lot of things.

  Lt. Leak : Well, we got up here kinda late yesterday and...

  Maj. Whittlesey : Is that and excuse or an explanation? I'm not interested in either on. I want you and your platoon squared away, make sure your men have full rations, plenty of ammo. And wear that uniform properly. Put on dry socks if you have them and straighten your helmet. Oh and Lt. Leak, welcome to the 308th.

• 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.