They Were Expendable

In the months after the attack on Pearl Harbor destroyed the United States' Pacific fleet, the Japanese Navy quickly gained control of most of the Pacific Ocean. But a handful of brave men faced the might of the entire Japanese military knowing they must not fail--and knowing They Were Expendable. Robert Montgomery and Academy Award winner John Wayne star as two sailors assigned to an American PT Boat (Patrol and Torpedo), a small wooden ship that relied on speed, stealth and firepower. Their mission, as they attack much larger, better-armed destroyers and battleships, is to slow the Japanese conquest and give the United States time to rebuild its fleet. Based on a book by William L. White. Academy Award nominations for Best Special Effects and Best Sound, Recording.