
They Were Expendable
A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!
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.
Trailer
Cast

George Magrill
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Robert Barrat
The General

Vernon Steele
Army Doctor

Jack Mower
Officer (uncredited)

Larry Steers
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Billy Wilkerson
Sgt. Smith (uncredited)

Donna Reed
Lt. Sandy Davyss

Russell Simpson
'Dad' Knowland

Steve Barclay
Naval Officer (uncredited)

Sammy Stein
Sammy - Boat Crewman (uncredited)

Charles Trowbridge
Admiral Blackwell

Blake Edwards
Boat Crewman (uncredited)

Frank McGrath
'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited)

Joey Ray
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

John Wayne
Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

Tim Murdock
Ens. Brant

William B. Davidson
Hotel Manager (uncredited)

Leota Lorraine
Officer's Wife (uncredited)

Forbes Murray
Navy Captain (uncredited)

Wedgwood Nowell
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Paul Langton
Ens. 'Andy' Andrews

Lee Tung Foo
Asian Bartender (uncredited)

Tom Tyler
Captain at Airport (uncredited)

Al Bridge
Lieutenant Colonel (uncredited)

Almeda Fowler
Officer's Wife (uncredited)

Emmett Vogan
Naval Doctor (uncredited)

Jeff York
Ens. Tony Aiken

Henry H. Daniels Jr.
Sailor (uncredited)

Michael Kirby
Boat Crewman (uncredited)

Marshall Thompson
Ens. 'Snake' Gardner

Harry Tenbrook
'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c

Jack Cheatham
Commander (uncredited)

Jim Farley
(uncredited)

Robert Homans
Bartender at Manila Hotel (uncredited)

Paul Kruger
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Robert Milasch
Minor Role (uncredited)

Kermit Maynard
Airport Officer (uncredited)

Robert Montgomery
Lt. John Brickley

Reginald Simpson
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Jack Holt
General Martin

Cameron Mitchell
Ens. George Cross

Louis Jean Heydt
'Ohio'

Ward Bond
"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate

Leon Ames
Major James Morton

Jack Pennick
'Doc'

Jack Luden
Naval Air Captain (uncredited)

Bruce Kellogg
Elder Tompkins M.M. 2c

Robert Emmett O'Connor
Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)

Murray Alper
'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c

Philip Ahn
Army Orderly (uncredited)

Betty Blythe
Officer's Wife (uncredited)

Eve March
Nurse (uncredited)

Arthur Walsh
Seaman Jones

Donald Curtis
Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long

Alex Havier
'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c