One of the best scenes of any war movie. Troops that have been through the wringer but want to impress their replacements that they still got it in 'em.

In 1971 I arrived in Vietnam and got my first active duty combat assignment. The orders listed the replacement company you were to report to and which camp. They had a huge map that showed every camp and which unit it supported. I still remember looking at that map and seeing that screaming eagle next to camp Evans outside Hue at Phu Bai. My first thought was "Holy Sh*t, the 101st. Airborne." To this day the idea that I earned the right to wear that eagle makes me proud.

As an US Army Ranger, I get goosebumps every time I see this final clip. This movie and Audie Murphy’s “To Hell and Back” played a big part in me joining the Army. James Whitmore was nominated for his Supporting Actor role in this movie as “Kinney” -he should have won the Oscar.

I found this because my grandpa said it was one of his favorite scenes of any movie all time

Ditto. If you do not feel pride seeing this scene, you had better check your pulse. Although the events are heavily dramaticized-this was the same group of surviving paratroopers who were surrounded, outnumbered, outgunned, cut off from their supply lines, low on food and ammo, and when the Germans asked for their surrender-they defiantly gave the now famous response-NUTS! Dove or hawk, conservative or liberal, nobody can argue it was not a proud moment.

the greatest scene from one of the best ww2 films. most of the actors in this movie were actual veterans. this film should be shown in every middle and high school in this country so that each new generation sees the sacrifice of the greatest generation..

I still get goosebumps at the end there. I haven't seen too many good modern movies that can make me do that.

I think one of the greatest end scenes of all time

One of the greatest war films ever made and a HUGE influence on both Speilberg's "Saving Private Ryan" and especially "Band of Brothers," which aped entire scenes from this film. Just a terrific war film! Director William Wellman, a WWI veteran, and a cast filled with WWII vets ensured that this film really caught the spirit of the American GI.

They'll never be able to make a world war 2 movie like this again, their are no actors that can play the parts of American soldiers like these real Americas did back than, most of them experienced some part of that war in their every day living. They were a very special breed of men back then.The movie is one of the best W.W. 2 movies ever made. J.W. Brooks was here !!!!

I think this is my fav scene out of any war movie, and there's many that come close (like Patton's speech). This is enough to make you straighten up and keep fighting. Love it. Love the cadence. Love the 101st Airborne. Salute to them all.

My uncle rocco saw these troops coming off the line for relief. Everbody was proud as hell.

Still as impressive as ever. God bless the Yanks. Love from a Brit !!! xxx

james whitmore usmc, ricardo montalban us army, john hodiak us army, van jonhson uso entertainer, SALUTE.

I remember my parents taking me to see this when it came out, it is still in my memory. Bless all of our service men & women.

My father made it through the bulge. When over run he was in a foxhole and out of four men the only one alive. He played dead and lived. Three days before rescue.

My Dad's Dad was Army. His brother was USAAF. My mom's dad was Navy. His brother was Army. There younger brother was a marine. He saw action in Korea. They all volunteered. They all came home. Others weren't so lucky. Thank you warriors.

Great cast!, Great Movie! Thank you to all veterans!

One of the great War movies, so realistic, and leaves a lasting impression. You really care about the characters, and a lot don't make it, they die and the War still moves on. many movies based on World War 2 have tried to capture the spirit and soul of the American G.I. fighting in Europe, but very few get it right, and if they do, its only in fits and starts, this movie however hits the nail right on the head . The men are not heroes, nor are they cowards, they are people from all walks of life, all religions and all backgrounds pulling together for a common purpose. The definition of America.

*"Hey, Kinnie! What ever happened to Jody?"* _____

You aint got nothin to worry about.., he'll keep her happy untill I get out, but you wont get out until the end of the war, in nineteen hundred and seventy four

One of my grandfathers was KIA at Vith, and the other was in the Glider Infantry. He came in With Market Garden. The grandfather that lived, suffered from severe frostbite in his feet. In March, he was evacuated to Paris to recuperate, then home, in early 1945. He was at the Bulge , and in the Army for 2 years. That frostbite plagued him the rest of his life. Both very good men.

Painted an Elderly Mans house in Philadelphia......He had 1 sleeved arm , 1 sleeve empty.......I glanced at this.......He said.........Yepper... Left My Arm in Bastogne, Belgium, 1944.. Rest of me, made it Home.

As kids we played war and chanted this tune (cadence ) James Whitmore was a marine I would be one myself many years later.The scene no matter which branch of service brings out the example of brotherhood in uniform...U.S. army navy airforce marines!

James Whitmore was the bomb....and an actual veteran...

Definitely my favorite WW2 movie, and probably all war movies. Great movie with great actors.

I joined the US Army in 1982 - and at that time, there were some things that had not changed since World War Two - I literally knew a younger version of every Soldier in that film during my military career - even "Pop" with his false teeth! Those smiles when they realize they are being pulled from combat cause a lump in my throat every time. And we still had the "Jody calls" pretty much unedited!

A movie that had some hokey moments and some tremendous acting. Here, Whitmore gives one of the best grins in movie history. John Hodiak deserved at least an Oscar nomination for his role here, IMO.

Remembering the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge this week.

I don't know how old I was when I was this move as a youngster. This scene with James Whitmore is one that stuck with me for life! His role in Shawshank Redemption was perfect.

My father's favorite war film...he was with the 80th Division Blue Ridgers...from Normandy to Germany...vis Bastogne.

The jacket Whitmore's wearing, I wore one like it a whole winter. Wool collar. Damn itchy.

We did this cadence during hell week at Texas A&M, it was my favorite.

Been out for 30 years and it still gives me chills!

I have seen this movie several times. Great movie. My dad was at the Normandy Invasion and at the Battle of the Bulge. In fact he was wounded twice during the battle. Spent Christmas Day in field hospital.

While going to the library, during the summer, I passed an old timer who was bundled up with multiple layers. I was wearing t shirt and shorts. I asked him, aren't you hot? He told me he was in a fox hole in Bastogne, and ever since there, he couldn't feel warm again, always felt cold.

An absolutely magnificent scene. I cannot thank you enough for posting it. Thank you!

My favorite scene from one of my fav movies. Very realistic for its time, and a great theme of content. The best depiction of Bastogne until the one in Band of Brothers. This scene gives encouragement in any struggle.

without a doubt one of the movies that inspired me to join . Still get the same feeling today 40 years later

Best part of the movie...and it gets ME fired up!

From an Infantry man's point of view, this film captures the timeless spirit/personality of the branch perfectly. Great film!

50 years ago, my uncle, who was in the 442nd RCT, told me this movie 'got it right'.

Sergeant Kinnie also played Brooks in The Shawshank Redemption.

Damn Jody's are still the bane to the military man.

The battling bastards of Bastogne the 101st Airborne Division. God Bless Them Everyone.

The things you go through with your pals and the new guys who ultimately become your pals. You learn to depend on each other, working with each other supporting each other to defeat the enemy and survive. You get close......and bond.....A Band of Brothers.

I love this scene so much. It's so moving and makes me feel so proud of all our military people.

Those boots of James Whitmore' is some of the most iconic wardrobe in movie history. Up there with Frankenstein's boots, Scarlette O'Hara's green curtain dress or James Bond' tuxedo.

This is one of my favorite war movies even though it old. It's up there with Saving Pvt. Ryan, Fury .Hamburger Hill and minnie more. 😊

I remember watching this movie as a kid on those lazy Saturday afternoons. Still one of the best scenes IMO.

I saw it at the Compton Drive in , movie in 1950

I love that scene! OORAH!!!!

Everyone since who knows when who has been through Army basic training has marched to this song! It is classic, and this scene is, too. I've looked all for it. Thanks for posting it.

It still gives me chills, after all the times I've watched it.

Many of the people who made this movie were themselves veterans, and their memories were fresh. That is what gives this movie its stunning actuality: the comradeship, the blisters, the distant rumble of the guns, the freezing cold and exhaustion - it's all from real life.

The pride and spirit of the American fighting man will never die

Classic movie with a classic ending .... one of my top 5 in my all time favorite WW2 movies list

Ain't it great to have a pal! That works so hard to keep up morale! Lol such exquisite pessimism.

Paratroopers are never surrounded. They have the enemy right were they want them

Some genius said this picture wasn’t realistic. It most certainly was. It was written by Master Sergeant Robert Pirosh, U.S. Army, who had served in the Battle of the Bulge. Twenty of the extras were 101st Airborne soldiers, who trained the Hollywood actors and worked as extras. And several of the actors were decorated combat veterans (Neville Brand, James Arness, et al.). Bob Pirosh had been a successful screenwriter before The War (e.g., classic Marx Bothers comedies). After the War, he devoted himself to singing the praises of the infantry. He wrote this picture (1949), for which he won an Oscar for Best (Original) Story and Screenplay, and another, about the all-Nisei (Japanese-American) Fighting 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most heavily decorated unit in The War, Go for Broke (1951). Pirosh was also nominated for Best Story and Screenplay for that picture. In 1962, he created the show Combat! (1962-1967), for my money, the greatest TV drama of all time, and wrote and directed the picture, Hell is for Heroes. Unfortunately, one of the cast members of Hell was the king of cruel, a former marine named Steve McQueen. McQueen demanded a bigger role, took the shoot hostage, and made life so miserable for Pirosh that the latter quit, with the picture 95% finished. The studio brought in Don Siegel to wrap it up, and gave Siegel the complete director’s credit. And that was it for director Bob Pirosh, though he continued to sell TV scripts for many years. When John Sturges was producing and directing The Great Escape the following year, Cruel was in the cast, and again kidnapped the shoot, demanding a bigger role. At first, Sturges stood tall against the thug, but then he thought of Bob Pirosh and submitted to Cruel. How Steve McQueen made it through the Marines without getting court martialed and tossed, I’ll never know.

My first assignment was as a Rifle Platoon Leader in that regiment. 2 Plt B-2/327th INF. 40 years after the Buldge.

That is the essence of being Airborne. Airborne are expected to go farther, do more, with only what they can carry. They are above the regular soldiers in many ways but mostly in heart and attitude.

I never caught a break like this or the one maj Winters gave those men. being turned around and sent to the rear must have been such a welcome surprise. Going from ragged to marching upright is inspiring.

I've got this movie,I like this movie,and the music.

I love how a fellow Devil Dog showed how to drill troops in this film !!! Love this scene !!! 💯💯💯 🔥🔥🔥

Could not have wanted a better ending than this.

I agree one of the Best if not The Best. One of My Dad’s older Brother’s was a Combat Engineer 289th RCT 75th infantry first Battle on Christmas Eve Grandmenil Belgium. My First Wife’s Dad Melvin Moose Muznich had a voice and mannerism’s like Sergeant Kinnie and also chewed cigars. He was a Veteran of the 95th Infantry Division from Metz to the End of the War. There Have been many excellent WW2 movies with excellent actor’s, Acting and Special effects. I think Battleground excels in that it captures the feeling even though filmed using studio sets. The sound of the Rifle fire in the ambush scene although subdued was a good match to anyone who has experienced that from high power rifles in cold and snow. If You are in proximity of down range shots they can sound like mortar rounds cutting the air.there is definitely something about all the people who grew up and lived through those times that I don’t believe or at least I have yet to see a actor no matter how good portray. My Uncle Ernie Magri is in a video about Memorial Day. My Uncle Lou Ardito a decorated machine Gunner Who fought through Italy with the 34th infantry Div. said Saving Private Ryan was also very good and as close as a movie audience will get without the smells and tastes of actual combat and witnessing horrific wounds, cries for Help or the expressions on the faces of men burned beyond recognition standing bolt upright in the turret of knocked out tank’s. The use of Jody Call’s and the way depicted in this movie are a definite plus that helps the audience to somewhat feel those Times like Woody Guthries Billy Boy or Earl Robinson’s Waiting from the Ballad of the Texas Division that was in the soundtrack of A Walk In The Sun.

THIS IS A FABOULOUS STORY OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULDGE , 101st AIBORNE 5*****

Just stumbled across this. The only difference in the outlook, the appearance, the marching cadence, the very ethos, between their war and my war was the line we sang as "We'll all go home at th' end ah da war. In Nineteen Hunnerd an' Nindy For." Brings back a different universe from a long, long time ago...

one of DA BEST WW2 films....

Love the marching song

when we first got cable television, perhaps in 1979, Ted Turner's WTCG, later WTBS, ran old movies non stop on the weekends. This is one that I watched numerous times. Definitely a great one.

My Oldman was in Korea. He said that this was the most authentic war movie, even down to the sound of the M1. You didn't know that you were a part of a battle line. Your world was just your and a few other nearby foxholes. This movie captures that because many in it and involved with it served. Great movie. Great scene!

Gotta love that James Whitmore, when he takes that big bite off of that cigar, Van Johnson gets into step, and Douglas Fowley putting in his teeth, to instill pride.

Like so many other actors of this era James Whitmore a WW2 combat veteran, he was in the USMC in the Pacific.

101st Airborne. Screaming Eagles. Salute...

The first scene in this movie was this same platoon at full strength doing Drill and Ceremony routines. Quite a drop off in number of paratroopers. I get chills when this smaller platoon gets into the scene.

james whitmore , WW2 veteran ! a true Hollywood stud....they don't make them like that anymore that's for sure...

What a fantastic ending. Scrubby James Whitmore limping along, "you won't get home to the end of the war, in nineteen hundred and seventy four" as the men pick up the cadence with pride in each other.

Growing up in the 1960's it was Little Army or Big Army every day with my Friends. Little was in the dirt Piles and your Plastic Army Men. Big army was with your dads old WW2 equipment Brought home. Tents - Helmets - Belts , you get the idea. I still remember the first time watching that film. As I Grew older I collected Autographs from many of the actors in that film , Noting watching it as many times the three basic channels would air it. I also over the years interviewed men who were in the battle of the bulge all said they had the stuffing kicked out of them before it turned around. Total respect for the men who served. Love World War Two history.

Your Mother was there when you left........You're right Your Father was there when you left.........You're right. Your Brother was there when you left.....,..You're right. Your Sister was there when you left...........You're right Your Mother, your Father, your Brother, your Sister......they all were glad when you left........You're right.

I was in AFROTC in 1985, and on our field training encampment we sang the same marching jody they sing at 2:14. Brings back a lot of good memories. And, of course, this is a wonderful film.

Foot ailments were a major problem. Protection from the cold, as we see here, came from wrapping scraps of burlap (from a supply of gunny sacks found in a warehouse) around one's boots.

This generation has been called the Greatest Generation. I would not argue with that.

Awesome movie!!!!

Always gives me chills.

great ending to a great movie

I forgot about this movie. Love it! KINGS COUNT!

Can't believe this movie isn't more well known

Best ending ever in a Military Movie

One of my favorite movies.

Saw this movie as a kid on the big screen, the ending always brings a tear to my eye.

Love this scene with every fiber of my body. Tear up every time

Compaired to modern war movies I love watching along of the old war movies that my dad and grandpa watched better than the modern ones.

When men were men.......never get this back again all my uncles served on both sides of my family and no one ever spoke about war with them because it was horrible......God Bless them all

Great cast, Great movie

Great movie.

AWESOME clip. AWESOME scene. Thanks for posting! Dad would be proud.

Can't not watch this one. We don't have character actors like these anymore.

@esanch And when told they had been saved by the 3rd Armored they replied, "We didn't know we needed saving".