Combat! episode reviews by Jo
Davidsmeyer
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SYNOPSIS:
During a barrage, Saunders is trapped
under a beam and the only man who can rescue him is Private Kogan. The scared Kogan
abandons Saunders as the enemy moves into town. Kogan tells the platoon that Saunders is
dead, but when they are ordered to recapture the village, Kogan returns to face Saunders
and try to save him.
REVIEW   :
In "The Hard Way Back," teen idol Sal Mineo plays a terror-stricken
young private who is transformed into a reluctant hero. This episode features fine
performances by Vic Morrow and Sal Mineo.
Though their scenes are short, the squad's moments are memorable. Hanley and the regulars' reactions upon hearing of Saunders' death are well and subtly played — especially Pierre Jalbert, whose silent, stunned reactions speak volumes. They all are badly shaken by Saunders' death. When Hanley says, "All right. Settle down," to Kogan, he is really saying it to himself and the rest of the squad.
Fans refer to this as a "beamer" episode: a plot device where you trap a character under a beam for dramatic effect. Combat! used this device in five episodes. Fan comments about this episode - add your own comment! See Sal Mineo merchandise: tapes, DVDs, posters, audio CDs CAST:Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley Guest Star Sal Mineo as Larry Kogan Jack Hogan as Kirby Conlan Carter as Doc Pierre Jalbert as Caje Erik Holland as 1st German Soldier Grant Lockwood as 2nd German Soldier Ed Gilbert as German Captain Martin Brandt as Old Frenchman Robert Howard as German Lieutenant Eric Forst as German Officer
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Combat! Episodes
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(076) The Hard
Way Back 
The script by Edward J. Lakso is finely crafted. Sal Mineo's dialogue as he tells the
squad of Saunders' death is particularly well formed. As he stumbles through his words,
making things up as he goes, Kogan conveys what he means to say as clearly as what he
actually says. Desperately wanting to make sense of their loss, the squad inadvertently
feeds Kogan the details he needs to make his lies plausible.
