What can I say about "Battleground" to Combat! fans, except that if you haven’t yet seen it, DO SO. If you can’t get it on TV, BUY IT. You’ll watch it again and again and again. From its onset it’s readily apparent why this splendid, realistic portrayal of the ‘Battered Bastards of Bastogne’ was nominated for 6 Oscars (including best picture) and won two (Including one for Pirosh’s script). I learned today that it is the favorite movie of WWII re-enactors. This movie definitely rates 4 bayonets!

As soon as the Platoon Sgt Kinny began singing, Jodie’s Song, I was blasted back to my early childhood. I only lived with my parents until I was eight, but I remember that that’s the song my dad used to sing to me. He’d sing it when he’d go for walks with me perched on his shoulders. Then he’d sing it to me before I went to sleep. I remember that later I used to drive people crazy singing that song. Back then I couldn't figure out why I was forbidden to sing it. After watching "Battalion" I now know.

Anyway, here’s Jodie’s Song as sung by the Battered Bastards of Bastogne’s I Company, 3rd Platoon, 2nd Squad in "Battalion".

1)
SGT. KINNY: They signed you up for the length of the war.
PLATOON: I never had it so good before.
SGT. KINNY: The best you’ll get in a bivouac,
PLATOON: Is a whiff of cologne from a passing WAC.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: One, two.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: Three, four.
SGT. KINNY: Cadence count.
PLATOON: One, two, three, four. One, two… three four!

2)
SGT. KINNY: There aint no use in going back.
PLATOON: Jodie’s living in the shack.
SGT. KINNY: Jodie’s got something you aint got.
PLATOON: It’s been so long I almost forgot.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: One, two.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: Three, four.
SGT. KINNY: Cadence count.
PLATOON: One, two, three, four. One, two… three four!

3)
SGT. KINNY: Ya had a good home, but ya left.
PLATOON: You’re right.
SGT. KINNY: Jodie was there when you left.
PLATOON: You’re right.
SGT. KINNY: Your baby was there when you left.
PLATOON: You’re right.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: One, two.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: Three, four.
SGT. KINNY: Cadence count.
PLATOON: One, two, three, four. One, two… three four!

4)
SGT. KINNY: Your baby was lonely as lonely can be.
PLATOON: Till Jodie provided company.
SGT. KINNY: Aint it great to have such a pal.
PLATOON: Who works so hard to keep up moral.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: One, two.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: Three, four.
SGT. KINNY: Cadence count.
PLATOON: One, two, three, four. One, two… three four!

5)
SGT. KINNY: You aint got nothin’ to worry about.
PLATOON: He’ll keep her happy till I get out.
SGT. KINNY: You wont get home till the end of the war.
PLATOON: In nineteen hundred and seventy four.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: One, two.
SGT. KINNY: Sound off.
PLATOON: Three, four.
SGT. KINNY: Cadence count.
PLATOON: One, two, three, four. One, two… three four!

P.S. Dad used to sing it with these words added in:

DAD: You’ll never get home on your left.
ME: You’re right.
DAD: You’ll never get home if your deaD.
ME: You’re right.
DAD: Sound off…

- 349th Heavy Weapons Crew

By 349hvywpnscrew (349hvywpnscrew) on Unrecorded Date:

The only thing wrong with writing a review at 2 in the morning is that I can get some pretty obvious things like titles all wrong. Of course, I'm referring to "Battleground" which I mistakingly call "Battalion" in my review "Battalion Video and Jodie's Song."