Col. William Orlando Darby: [Having a heart-to-heart talk with a somewhat distraught Ranger, who has just killed his first enemy soldier in combat] I've killed men, too. It won't be the last for either of us.
Pvt. Rollo Burns: Uh, sir, well, I was brought up to believe that a man's life was sacred, and that only God had the right to take it.
Col. William Orlando Darby: I believe that... Unless he's trying to kill you first.
Pvt. Rollo Burns: Well, I'll get over it, I guess.
Col. William Orlando Darby: Of course you will... Burns, look. We didn't make this world, so we can't account for the kind of men that are in it. All we can do as soldiers is try and repair it, so it can be lived in again. Unfortunately, that means killing.

Pvt. Rollo Burns: You know, I think war is a big stink.
Col. William Orlando Darby: A BIG stink!... There never was a good war - or an intelligent or kind one.
Col. William Orlando Darby: [Starts to get up] Rollo, we'll be haunted by the men we've killed as long as we live. When you've married Peggy, and you've looked in the faces of your children, you'll understand why it had to be done.
Pvt. Rollo Burns: Uh, sir? Thank you... for taking the time to talk to me.
Col. William Orlando Darby: [pauses at the door, faint smile on his face] I was talkin' to myself, too.

MSgt. Saul Rosen: [Rangers are creeping through enemy territory, in a very thick ground fog] This was the low, clinging kind of fog I used to see when I was hunting duck out on Long Island... Now I know how the duck felt.