The Fighting 69th

Father Duffy:
When did an Irishman need a prayer in a fight?

Jerry Plunkett:
Now go tell the colonel he wants you.

Jerry Plunkett:
If they don't let us at those Boches pretty soon, I'll have to carve me up a top-sergeant!

Terence 'Crepe-Hanger' Burke:
Don't mind him sarge, he's his own worst enemy!

Sergeant 'Big Mike' Wynn:
Not while *I'm* alive, he ain't!

Major 'Wild Bill' Donovan:
[to Father Duffy] Well, it's a fortunate thing you're not a *crook!* You could sell the *Brooklyn Bridge* to the *police department!*

Terence 'Crepe-Hanger' Burke:
An army's not an *army*, unless it *eats!* It's just a-a walking *famine!*

Father Duffy:
[praying] Almighty God, in Thine infinite mercy grant me, thy servant, the wisdom to guide my young flock through the trials of war. Oh, Father, they're so young. So young and they know so little of life and nothing at all of that terrible and bloody altar towards which they move, carrying so eagerly the bright sacrifice of their youth. Their need will be great, O Lord, and I am weak. Therefore, I beseech thee through Thy Son, Christ, our Lord, grant me the strength to keep them steadfast in the faith, in decency and courage to the glory of God, their country, and their regiment in the bad times to come. And if in battle you see fit to gather them to your protecting arms, thy will be done, but let them die like men, valiant and unafraid.

Terence 'Crepe-Hanger' Burke:
Believe me, in the next war there's gonna be three guys missing - me and the two guys that's chasin' me.

Sergeant Joyce Kilmer:
[reading his own poem at the site where many of the men had been buried alive] Perhaps their brave young spirits hear the bugle sing, go to sleep, go to sleep. Slumber well where the shell screamed and fell. Let your rifles rest on the muddy floor; you will not need them any more. Danger's past now at last, go to sleep. And up to Heaven's doorway floats from the wood called Rouge Bouquet, a delicate cloud of bugle notes that softly say, 'Farewell, farewell, comrades true. Born anew, peace to you. Your souls shall be where the heroes are, and your memory shine like the Morning Star. Brave and dear, shield us here. Farewell.'

Father Duffy:
You know Jerry, you're getting yourself so "well-liked" in this army, that they'd rather machine gun *you* than the *Germans*! It was *bad enough* at Camp Mills, but instead in *improving* you've been getting *worse*!

Jerry Plunkett:
Aw, that's what *you* think!

Father Duffy:
No, that's what *everybody* thinks!

Father Duffy:
I don't believe I've met *you* yet...

Jerry Plunkett:
[thinks he is talking to a fellow recruit] Oh, I've been around. Plunkett's my name; Jerry Plunkett. "Smilin' Jerry" they call me, on account of my disposition!

[the recruits start fighting with each other]

Jerry Plunkett:
Aw, the *saps*!

Father Duffy:
[worried] Help me break it up, Jerry!

Jerry Plunkett:
[unaware that he is talking to an officer] Not *me* pal; You don't get medals for *that* kinda fightin'!

Jack O'Keefe:
[referring to Plunkett] Gee, that guy hates himself.

Sergeant 'Big Mike' Wynn:
Well, that makes it unanimous.

Yeah Fatha, I'm Irish but I don't wear it on my sleeve -- Pvt Jerry Plunkett to regimental chaplain Father Duffy