Fort Apache (1948)
Henry Fonda ( Col.Thursday) plays a Custer like officer who gets his cavalry command wiped out by The Apache Indians. He leads an attack even though John Wayne (York) the more experienced officer has recommended against the attack and as a result Wayne is left with the supply waggons and lives. Later Wayne talks with reporters about the attack and sugar coats it for the good of the Army.
Newspaper reporter [speaking of Col. Thursday] "But what of the men who died with him? What of Collingworth and... "
Captain Yorke: "Collingwood."
Newspaper reporter: "Oh, of course, Collingwood."
Reporter: "That's the ironic part of it. We always remember the Thursdays, but the others are forgotten."
Captain Yorke: "You're wrong there. They aren't forgotten because they haven't died. They're living - right out there."
[points out the window]
Captain Yorke: "Collingwood and the rest. And they'll keep on living as long as the regiment lives. The pay is thirteen dollars a month; their diet: beans and hay. Maybe horsemeat before this campaign is over. Fight over cards or rotgut whiskey, but share the last drop in their canteens. The faces may change... the names... but they're there: they're the regiment... the regular army... now and fifty years from now. They're better men than they used to be. Thursday did that. He made it a command to be proud of."
Thus, for the good of the cavalry Wayne goes with the legend and not the facts. Pat Tillman anyone.
John Ford who directed this movie was drawing from his experiences in World War II ("The Good War")
