Lt. Jake Grafton Quotes in Flight of the Intruder (1991)

Court-Martial Captain: You took an oath, Mr. Cole. You, too, Mr. Grafton. You took an oath to defend the constitution and obey the orders of the officers appointed over you. It's the same oath that every officer in the navy has taken for damn near 200 years. And during all that time, the military has obeyed the civilian elected government. Now, they might not have always been right, or wise... or even smart, but they were elected. Any other way and the United States would be nothing more than another two-bit military dictatorship.

Admiral: Why did you do this, Cole? An officer with your fine record? Did you think you were going to win the war?

Cole: Frankly, sir, I think we're going to lose this one. But I do love the work.

Court-Martial Captain: Mr. Cole, you may find that amusing, but we don't. Gentlemen, this is our country you're messing with. Well, Mr. Grafton, you have an attentive audience here. Perhaps you can explain to us why you thought a one-plane war was the way to go.

Lt. Jake Grafton: Well, sir, we bomb worthless targets night after night - I mean, three tents under a tree... sampan repair yards that have been hit ten times already. Sir, you know the list better than I do. My first bombardier and 50,000 other Americans are dead and... can anyone tell me why? I realize that I'm Lieutenant Nobody. I'm... I'm not really sure about anything anymore. This war's become very confusing. Nobody... nobody wants to fight in it. Nobody seems to want to win it. Maybe it never should have happened, but people do die in it. Maybe for me, it got personal, because I do know the difference between dying for something and dying for nothing. I know that's no excuse. I... I know that. And I broke the faith, and for that, I am truly wrong. Perhaps I should hang.

Court-Martial Captain: Hanging, Mr. Grafton, is no longer a punishment much in use. But a prison term in Leavenworth is, or a dishonorable discharge if a court-martial should so decide. But whatever happens,I think it's safe to say that your career in the navy is over. The only question's how.

[at the bar in Po city]

Lt. Jake Grafton: "Fighter pukes make movies. Bomber pilots make... HISTORY!"

Lt. Jake Grafton: I hear you've been selected early for Captain. They've going to *give* you your own boat, maybe even a carrier. And I wouldn't be surprised if you made Admiral.

Cdr. Camparelli: Have you ever seen a black man who's an Admiral?

Lt. Jake Grafton: Hey. Third-Generation Mafia, sir!

Cdr. Camparelli: That's right, Mr. Grafton.

Cdr. Camparelli: [Reprimanding the men after a barfight] Now what's this crap about you attempting to feed a merchant seaman to some alligators?

Lt. Jake Grafton: They were crocodiles, sir.

Cdr. Camparelli: I don't give a damn! Now go on.

Lt. Jake Grafton: Well, I attempted to throw the aforementioned puke to the crocodiles, sir, when his belt caught on the railing and I, failed. An altercation then ensued, sir!

Cdr. Camparelli: Seven hundred bucks damage, thirty men in the brig and... an alligator injured. And you got away?

Lt. Jake Grafton: Using escape and evasion techniques, sir, I was able to avoid being captured. And sir? We didn't hurt that crocodile. He was fine when we left.

Razor: Yeah, he was okay, Skipper!

Cdr. Camparelli: [Grafton has just been shot down while trying to rescue Camparelli] You think this changes anything, you hoodlum? You disobeyed another order! I grounded you!

Lt. Jake Grafton: Hey, I AM on the ground!