They Were Expendable

After a demonstration of new PT boats, Navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley 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.

• 
  John Ford
• 
  Edward O'Fearna

• 
  Robert Montgomery
  Lt. John Brickley
• 
  John Wayne
  Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
• 
  Donna Reed
  Lt. Sandy Davyss
• 
  Jack Holt
  General Martin
• 
  Ward Bond
  "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
• 
  Marshall Thompson
  Ens. 'Snake' Gardner
• 
  Paul Langton
  Ens. 'Andy' Andrews
• 
  Leon Ames
  Major James Morton
• 
  Arthur Walsh
  Seaman Jones
• 
  Donald Curtis
  Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
• 
  Cameron Mitchell
  Ens. George Cross
• 
  Louis Jean Heydt
  'Ohio'
• 
  Jeff York
  Ens. Tony Aiken
• 
  Murray Alper
  'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c
• 
  Harry Tenbrook
  'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c
• 
  Jack Pennick
  'Doc'
• 
  Alex Havier
  'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c
• 
  Charles Trowbridge
  Admiral Blackwell
• 
  Robert Barrat
  The General
• 
  Bruce Kellogg
  Elder Tompkins M.M. 2c