They Were Expendable 1945

In December 1941, Lieutenant John “Brick” Brickley (Robert Montgomery) helms a squadron of petite yet agile U.S. Navy PT boats stationed at Cavite in the Philippines. As he showcases their exceptional agility and seakeeping capabilities to Admiral Blackwell (Charles Trowbridge), the senior area commander remains unimpressed by their diminutive size and lightweight construction, leaving Lieutenant Junior Grade “Rusty” Ryan (John Wayne) increasingly frustrated. Rusty is itching for combat and grows disgusted with the admiral’s dismissive attitude. When news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor arrives via radio bulletin, Rusty becomes even more agitated, his desire to participate in combat reaching a boiling point.

As Japanese forces ravage the Philippines, Brick’s squadron is kept out of the fray, relegated to menial tasks such as mail and messenger duty. The frustration between Brick and Rusty threatens to erupt into open conflict, particularly after a devastating attack on their base leaves the admiral desperate enough to order them to launch an attack against a large Japanese cruiser shelling U.S. troop emplacements ashore.

Initially, Brick assigns Rusty to lead the second boat on the sortie, but upon discovering his executive officer’s blood poisoning from a previous combat wound, he orders Rusty to sick bay and selects another crew to take his place. A bitter Rusty, accusing his CO of “glory hogging,” resists evacuation to a military hospital on Corregidor. However, after reluctantly admitting the severity of his condition, he meets Ohio (Louis Jean Heydt), who advises him to calm down and get in line.

As Rusty recovers, he begins a romance with the strong-willed Army nurse Sandy Davyss (Donna Reed), whose wholesome charm leaves even Ohio, a fellow patient, impressed. Meanwhile, Brick’s attack successfully sinks the Japanese cruiser, allowing Rusty to return and the squadron to achieve increasing success at a growing cost in terms of boats and men.

Despite their victories, it is only a matter of time before the Philippines fall. As the situation becomes increasingly dire, Sandy attends a dinner in her honor at the PT Base, rekindling the flame between her and Rusty.

As the Japanese juggernaut surged across the Philippines, the PT Squadron found themselves marooned on Corregidor, a tiny island stronghold in Manila Bay. The once-formidable American defenders had been vanquished at Bataan, leaving Corregidor as the final bastion against the enemy’s relentless advance. Under orders from General Douglas MacArthur (Douglas MacArthur), Rusty and his comrades were tasked with evacuating the commanding general, along with Admiral Blackwell and their entourage, to Mindanao, where they would be flown south to Australia. In a poignant moment, Rusty managed to make one final phone call to Sandy, stationed on Bataan, only for the connection to be abruptly severed before they could bid each other farewell.

The PT flotilla, now reeling from their losses, successfully navigated treacherous waters to deliver the commanders to their destination. They then continued to harass Japanese forces, despite being gradually whittled down until their numbers were too small to mount an effective defense. As the squadron’s strength dwindled, those without boats were reassigned to fight as infantry alongside the Army. Rusty’s own vessel suffered damage, prompting him to seek repairs at a small shipyard run by the grizzled “Dad” Knowland (Russell Simpson). With his boat ready to depart ahead of an impending Japanese assault, Dad refused to flee, instead bidding a poignant farewell to Rusty and the others as they left behind their damaged vessel.

In the final hours of the war, Rusty’s boat launched one last daring attack against a threatening cruiser, sacrificing itself in the process. As Brick’s vessel was commandeered by the US Army for messenger duty, the three remaining PTs were reduced to mere shadows of their former selves. Brick, Ryan, and two ensigns received orders from Navy command to be airlifted out of harm’s way, assigned to stateside training duties to prepare new PT crews for future combat. While waiting for the plane, Rusty chanced upon Ohio, both unaware of Sandy’s fate, trapped behind enemy lines on Bataan. As they commiserated over their shared uncertainty, they found solace in each other’s company, hoping against hope that Sandy had escaped to safety.

When the ensigns finally arrived late, Rusty made a desperate bid to secure passage on the plane, only to be brought back down to earth by Brickley’s stern reminder of his duty. Ohio was forced to relinquish his seat, left behind to face almost certain capture or death at the hands of their merciless enemies.

As the last vestiges of American troops, marshaled by the stalwart Chief Mulcahey (Ward Bond), take up arms once more, they embark on a perilous crusade to revive the flagging resistance alongside the bedraggled remnants of the U.S. Army and the unyielding Filipino guerrillas. Like the PT boats that had previously borne the brunt of their country’s valiant but doomed endeavors, these soldiers now find themselves expendable in the fight, their very existence hinging precariously on the outcome of a struggle that seems all but hopeless against the crushing might of their formidable foes.