The Medal

While crossing a cemetery, Lt. Hanley, Sgt. Saunders and their squad are surprised by a German tank and a heavy machine gun. They retreat but Privates D'Amato and Wharton, who are close friends, stay near the tank. D'Amato heads to the tank, kills the German soldiers and uses the machine gun to kill the German squad alone. However he is killed by the German commander that flees. When Wharton sees his friend dead, he goes crazy and discharges the machine gun on the German bodies. Lt. Hanley mistakenly gives the credit for killing the enemies to Wharton and recommends him to the Silver Star. Wharton does not tell the truth, but when the German commander is arrested, he is assigned to go with Sgt Saunders to deliver the prisoner to the intelligence. When Saunders leave the German with Wharton, he waits the right moment to blackmail the American soldier. But Saunders overhears the conversation and is suspicious of what Wharton can do to keep the medal.

"The Medal" is one of the best episodes of "Combat!" with another storyline of moral dilemma. The need of a hero to be an example to the squad and the need of a medal of a private with unrequited love to show to his former girlfriend are the ingredients of this story. The conclusion is moralist but works perfectly well. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "A Medalha" ("The Medal")

"The Medal" imparts a fine lesson on the value of honesty, virtue, and human dignity.

Private Wharton (excellently played by Frank Gorshin) is best friends with Private Vincent D'Amato (excellently played by Joseph Campanella.) After being pinned down by a German tank, D'Amato decides to take on the tank using a sound strategy. In the process, he accomplishes a great deal but is severely wounded. After receiving a dear John letter, Private Wharton's ethics and morals go astray and he decides to take advantage of D'Amato's situation. When German Lieutenant Kohr (played by Ed Knight) is captured, the tables turn for Wharton and he must face his reality. In the end, Private Wharton pulls Saunders out of a bad jam and atones for his previous conduct.

I'm critical of the opening sequence in that the Germans would have nailed the right flank of the Americans instead of hiding in the bush. In addition, Director Stanley should have made the ambush appear much more real letting the Americans advance several more yards before allowing the Germans to open up on them. And why fire the 88 caliber cannon first giving 95 % of the Americans time to take significant cover ? In all fairness however, the opening combat sequence is still one of the most memorable in the history of the Combat TV series.

Character development throughout the episode is excellent. D'Amato has the most memorable scene; his facial expressions are priceless! Wharton intones some great verbiage in the ending sequence. Saunders has a sarcastic sequence with Wharton that reminds me of a typical Dragnet Sergeant Joe Friday aside.

Casting did a fine job in choosing Campanella and Gorshin; they both made the difference.

A very strong story benefits from top-notch casting of Frank Gorshin and Joseph Campanella in this "Combat!" episode.

An exciting battle has the Americans being mowed down by a German machine gun placement with a heroic effort by Joseph to take out the deadly gun, and then an entire squad of Germans charging forward, before he's taken out. His buddy Frank is too late to save him, and when he comes out of a coma he dies before he can speak.

The squad hails Gorshin as the hero and he fails to correct them. Rick decides to put Gorshin up for a Silver Star, but Vic disagrees that one man be singled out for honors.

Taking credit for something he didn't do provides Gorshin with a plum dramatic role and he's up to the occasion.

A well-telegraphed twist has an Italian officer captured, who witnessed the machine gun incident, and is ready to blackmail Frank for some suspenseful time as the inevitable other shoe waits to be dropped.