(061) The Short Day of Private Putnam

Unbeknownst to the squad, their newest replacement, Pvt. Orville Putnam, is only fifteen years old. Putting on a false front, "Putt" alienates the squad and rebuffs Billy's attempt at friendship. The squad scoffs at his bravado and his odd interest in collecting leaves. When tested under fire, Putt is unprepared emotionally and panics when his friend Harvey is killed beside him. But in the end, his keen eye and botanical hobby save him and the squad from snipers.

Tom Lowell enjoyed the episode because of Beau Bridges. Actors of his own age only rarely appeared on Combat! "Dennis Robertson, Beau Bridges, or somebody like that," says Lowell, "came along every once in awhile. The irony, of course, is in WWII, they were all young kids."

The premise, that a fifteen-year-old is not emotionally equipped for war, has little historical basis. Throughout history, teenage boys (and girls) have carried arms and fought heroically. Despite the comfortable mid-life look to the Combat! squad, World War II was fought largely by teens. Rick Jason, Dick Peabody, and Shecky Greene were all in their teens when they served in WWII. Fifteen was young by WWII standards, (though a few 'men' of that age did serve gallantly), soldiers of that age and younger were staples of earlier armies. Some military historians think teens are better suited to war, because they have less concept of their own mortality and, unlike adults, they can be convinced that they like it.

· Hanley's radioman gets the call signs reversed, saying "Checkmate King Two, this is White Rook." But in the next transmission, he gets it right.

Tom Lowell: "I had no idea that would be my last episode. At the time we were still in negotiations for the contract. And Gene Levitt just wouldn't budge. I felt badly about it, but at the time my outside career was doing real well."

Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley
Vic Morrow as Sgt. Saunders

Beau Bridges as Orville Putnam
Jack Hogan as Kirby
Conlan Carter as Doc
Pierre Jalbert as Caje
Dick Peabody as Littlejohn
Tom Lowell as Nelson
with
Robert Sampson as Harvey
and with
Lilyan Chauvin as Fauvette

Charles Francisco as Sgt. Darden (uncredited)
Paul Busch as Gunner (uncredited)
Richard Tretter as Ambulance Driver (uncredited)