They Were Expendable is a 1945 American war film directed by the late John Ford, starring the late Robert Montgomery and the late John Wayne, and featuring the late Donna Reed. The film is based on the 1942 novel of the same name by the late William Lindsay White, relating the story of the exploits of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three
After a demonstration of new PT boats, navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan (John Wayne) frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley (Robert Montgomery) are told they can finally take their squadron into battle. The PT boats quickly prove their worth, successfully shooting down Japanese planes, relaying messages between islands, and picking off a multitude of enemy ships.
Victims[]
- Unnamed Male Japanese Pilot - Shot down by Ensign "Snake" Gardner with a turret on a boat.
- Five Unnamed Male U.S. Soldiers - Killed during the Japanese bombing raid off-screen, bodies seen.
- Unnamed Male U.S. Navy Member - Blown up by a Japanese crew member with a missile.
- Unnamed Male U.S. Navy Captain - Shot by a Japanese crew member.
- Unnamed Male U.S. Navy Member - Blown up by a Japanese crew member with a missile.
- Ten Unnamed Male Japanese Crew Members - Blown up when Mate "Slug" Mahan and Ensign Tony Aiken blew up their ship with torpedoes.
- Mate Elder Tompkins - Shot to death by a Japanese crew member.
- Lieutenant Brant - Died of his wound after being shot by a Japanese crew member off-screen, mentioned.
- Ten Unnamed Male Japanese Crew Members - Blown up by U.S. Navy members with torpedoes.
- Seven Unnamed Male U.S. Crew Members - Blown up by Japanese crew members with a missile off-screen, mentioned.
- At Least 1,187 Unnamed Male Japanese Crew Members - Blown up when Lieutenant "Rusty" Ryan blew up their ship with torpedoes.
- Unnamed Male Japanese Pilot - Shot down by Mate "Slug" Mahan with a turret on a boat.
- Mate "Slug" Mahan - Shot to death by a Japanese pilot.
- "Squarehead" Larsen - Bled out after being shot by a Japanese pilot.
- Lieutenant Sandy Davyss - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- "Ohio" - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- Mate "Boats" Mulcahey - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- Ensign Tony Aiken - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- Ensign "Snake" Gardner - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- Ensign "Andy" Andrews - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- Major James Morton - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- "Dad" Knowland - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- "Doc" - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- Rear Admiral Blackwell - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- Seaman Jones - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
- 12 Unnamed Male U.S. Soldiers - Killed by Japanese soldiers when they took Bataan off-screen, implied.
Deaths[]
- Total - 1,251
- 1,250 Men
- 1 Woman
Kill Counts[]
- Lieutenant "Rusty" Ryan - 1,187 (Alive)
- Mate "Slug" Mahan - 11 (Deceased)
- Ensign Tony Aiken - 10 (Deceased)
- Ensign "Snake" Gardner - 1 (Deceased)