JAG (TV Series)

Defensive Action (1996)

Terry O'Quinn: Captain Thomas Boone

Quotes 

• Captain Thomas Boone : I am a naval aviator, with eleven thousand flying hours. Nine hundred and eight of which were in combat. I know gunfire when I see it. I did not imagine it. The Hind was firing at my men as they hung helpless in their chutes. What I did, I would do again without hesitation, even if doing so meant ending my Naval career. God knows it is not a career I wish to end. That'll happen soon enough. But better that than to break the sacred trust between an officer and those he commands to do whatever is in his power to protect them. Not only when such action is obvious or politically correct, but even when it is sure to be unpopular and questioned. The day that I can no longer live up to that trust, you will not have to ask for my resignation, gentlemen. It'll be tendered without hesitation.

• Commander Alison Krennick : The violation of a cease fire is an extremely serious matter.

  Captain Thomas Boone : They are the violators! They were shooting at my men!

  Commander Alison Krennick : If they were, and there's no evidence to support that, who ordered you to shoot back?

  Captain Thomas Boone : No one. I did it on my own initiative.

  Commander Alison Krennick : And who gave you the right to do that, Captain?

  Captain Thomas Boone : The Navy, the day they gave me my command!

  Lt. Cmdr. Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr. : CAG, we'll argue this in court. Not here.

  Captain Thomas Boone : No lawyer's going to tell me how to exercise my command!

  Lt. Cmdr. Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr. : Sir, with all due respect, keep your mouth shut.

• Lt. Cmdr. Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr. : Well?

  Lt. j.g. Meg Austin : Well, what, sir?

  Lt. Cmdr. Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr. : What was the Verdict?

  Commander Alison Krennick : Amazingly, it was 4 to 3... Not Guilty.

  Lt. Cmdr. Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr. : It should have been unanimous. This is part of Painter's chute.

  [pulls the parachute from his vest. CAG sticks his finger through the hole] 

  Commander Alison Krennick : I'll be damned.

  Captain Thomas Boone : 12.7mm. Standard ammunition on a Soviet Hind.

  Lt. j.g. Meg Austin : I love to see the faces of the three officers who voted guilty when they hear about this.

  Commander Alison Krennick : No way of knowing who they are.

  Captain Thomas Boone : Oh, I know who they are.

  [Rabb and Cag Walk across the flight deck] 

  Commander Alison Krennick : You do?

  Captain Thomas Boone : Hell, yes, I do.

  [Captain Boon and Harm leave and start walking across the flight deck] 

  Lt. j.g. Meg Austin : How would he know?

  Lt. Cmdr. Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr. : [Harm turns back]  He's the CAG!

• Captain Thomas Boone : Lieutenant, if there's one thing in the Navy I have faith in, it's the integrity of her officers.