- Cathcart: [Making an announcement to the other prisoners in the "Hanoi Hilton"] In the meantime, hear this, and pass it on: The Code of Conduct will apply to all American servicemen in here. Nobody handed you a "Discharge" when you got captured. We will keep the faith--in God, in country, in one another. We will honor military ranks and obey the Senior Ranking Officer at all times. For the time being, until I hear different, I am that SRO. My orders are simple. Firstly: save everything. Collect every piece of scrap you can find. It'll all come in handy. Secondly: stay in contact at all times. You must contact every arrival. You must memorize every name. We will manipulate the enemy, but we will not antagonize him needlessly. You catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar. No matter what they do to us, we are Americans. If we help, and support, one another, we... will... prevail.
- Shipboard Journalist: [Interviewing Williamson aboard an aircraft carrier, Gulf of Tonkin, off Viet Nam in 1964] Commander Williamson: there's a small, but growing, concern in Congress that, uh, we might be getting in over our heads in Southeast Asia. How does this strike you?
- Williamson: Well, I think we ought to be here. The South Vietnamese want to establish a country with values similar to our own. I think we ought to help.
- Shipboard Journalist: And what values are those?
- Williamson: Freedom, the right to think for yourself, follow your own faith--you know, individual freedom.
- Shipboard Journalist: Is that why you're here?
- Williamson: Well, I think I've told you why I'm here. But if you want the official reason, you'll have to ask the civilian authorities. They lawfully ordered me here. On that level I'm serving my country. I'm here to serve my government.
- Hubman: Colonel Cathcart, what did you mean that Johnson's ordered a bombing pause? Did the V respond? Will they talk? You know, in Korea they talked for three years before the P.O.W.s came home. Three years!
- Oldham: Hubman, you're a delight. Living with a happy, upbeat guy like you is a real delight. You know something, if this was World War 2, I'd escape. I'd get away from you *and* the gooks.
- Miles: Soldier on, Colonel! Soldier on!
- Cathcart: You too, flyer! You too!... Williamson's the new SRO!
- Williamson: Me? Oh, shit...
- Cathcart: Good luck!
- Major Ngo Doc - Cat: [Williamson, recently captured, has just been brought to the Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi] That you stand when I enter is good, is proper. Shows correctness of attitude... Welcome to Hanoi--and Hoa Lo Prison. I am Major Ngo Doc. And you are?
- Williamson: 2210771, Lieutenant Commander Williamson, Patrick Michael. 16th October, 1930.
- Major Ngo Doc - Cat: And where was your aircraft destroyed?
- Williamson: 2210771, Lieutenant Commander Williamson, Patrick Michael...
- Major Ngo Doc - Cat: [cutting him off] Yes, yes, all well and good, Commander... You are no doubt trying to hide behind the Geneva Convention, n'est-ce pas?
- Major Ngo Doc - Cat: [Williamson does not answer his question; Ngo Doc continues] Well, Commander, when the United States declare war upon my country, then we will fulfill our international commitments. But for the moment, there is no declaration of war! And since you cannot be a prisoner of war, you are a criminal! I suggest you should ask for a pardon.
- Turner: [Turner, recently captured, has just been brought to Hanoi's Hoa Lo prison] You got any advice?
- Miles: You hang tough as long as you can. Every time they don't beat you they lose. Every time they don't break us we win. And when they torture you... try to concentrate on the places that don't hurt.
- Kennedy: You push us too far and they'll bomb you. There're guys that'd bomb you back to the Stone Age if they got the chance.
- Major Ngo Doc - Cat: [gazing out the window, looking reflective] The real war is not in the Delta. It is in the United Nations. Champs Elysees. And Berkley, California. And the Washington Mall. The cities of America. And what we will not win on the battlefield, your journalists will win for us--on your very own doorstep.
- Hanoi Hilton: [voice of propagandist "Hanoi Hannah" heard over the Hoa Lo Prison loudspeakers] Hey, air pilots, do you know some of you guys have been here long enough to become citizens? We're winning the war... Don't you miss a McDonald's, a fries and a Coca Cola?
- Rasmussen: You're famous now, aren't you?
- Paula: I don't think that's important.
- Rasmussen: [scoffs] Why do you think these bastards let you in here? They ain't movie fans, I can tell you that. Fact is, they just wanted a way to get the Press all hot and bothered. They're *using* you.
- Jesse: I think we can handle the politics of the situation. I think we know what we're doing.
- [Rasmussen proceeds to mock them with a silly grin and the middle finger]
- Oldham: [upon learning that a fellow P.O.W. has cracked under torture, and "talked"] The man broke. He told the "V" what they wanted.
- Williamson: You know, I thought we'd never lose a battle. Any battle. And I'm so ashamed. But that means that we've gotta' stick together - you and me, and - and everyone who broke. We gotta' hang in. We gotta' survive. 'Cause we got to see home. We've got to see home. Damn...
- Paula: Are you hungry, Captain?
- Turner: Like you couldn't believe it.
- Jesse: I suppose you're no stranger to hunger.
- Turner: Not after three years in this joint.
- Raymond: How do you feel about the Democratic Republic?
- Turner: "Democratic Republic"?... Oh, you mean the gooks?
- [starts to chuckle]
- Paula: [looking uncomfortable] You're safe with us, Eric, there's no need to use that word. It's, it's...
- Turner: You call me "Captain," lady. I worked hard for that rank. And I use the word "gook" 'cause I can't think of anything worse I'd use in front of you.
- Paula: I'm just trying to help you, Eric.
- Turner: Why don't you shove it! I don't need help. Never from you! You don't even know when you're being used! So I'm sorry, boss, but you got the wrong nigger!
- [grabs a piece of fruit and storms out]
- Fischer: [addressing the other P.O.W.s, prior to his appointed execution] I do not believe my death will help win the war. It seems that people at home no longer care anyway. I die not so much for love of country, as for love of countrymen. God bless you all. To me, you all stand out in the crowd.