Episode
McHale's Navy: A Purple Heart for Gruber
Overview
Lester Gruber has been given the job of laundering Captain Binghamton's uniforms. When a Japanese sub fires on the PT 73, the uniforms are destroyed, and Lester's finger is scratched, prompting him to put in for a Purple Heart.
Details
- Series
- McHale's Navy
- Season
- Season 1
- Episode
- Episode 2
- Air date
- 1962-10-18
- Runtime
- 30 min
Episode context
A Purple Heart for Gruber is Episode 2 in Season 1 of McHale's Navy. It aired on 1962-10-18. The runtime is 30 min.
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Episode 1: An Ensign for McHale
Ensign Charles Parker reports for duty as the new Executive Officer of the PT 73, to a not-so-warm welcome from McHale and The Crew. But McHale is soon impressed by the Ensign, and persuades the boys to shape up, so that Parker can stay on as XO.
Episode 3: McHale and His Seven Cupids
McHale decides that what Ensign Parker really needs is a girl friend. He convinces Parker that he is suffering from an advanced case of battle fatigue so that he can be sent to the hospital, where McHale hopes that he will find Nurse Casey Brown to his liking.
More episodes from this season
Episode 4: PT 73, Where Are You?
Binghamton grants McHale and the 73 Crew a week's liberty in New Caledonia, but they must postpone their trip, when the 73 turns up missing, and they have to scheme to get a replacement.
Episode 5: Movies Are Your Best Diversion
When McHale and his men are assigned the duty of averting a Japanese attack on a US convoy, they use the soundtracks of movies starring John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, and Errol Flynn to confuse the enemies.
Episode 6: Operation Wedding Party
McHale tries to figure out a way for Christy and his true love, Lt. Gloria Winters, to get married, even though it is against regulations for an officer to marry an enlisted man. But the lovebirds have even more problems: Binghamton schedules maneuvers on the evening of the wedding, and the Japanese schedule an all-out battle.
Episode 7: Who Do the Voodoo?
Chief Urulu demands monetary compensation from the Navy, for destroying the coconut trees on his island, and puts a curse on Binghamton, when he refuses to pay.
Episode 8: Three Girls on an Island
A plane with the Singing Tyler Sisters aboard is forced down with engine trouble on a deserted island. McHale and The 73 Crew are sent to pick them up, with more than their rescue on their minds, but wind up being quite disappointed.
Episode 9: McHale's Paradise Motel
Binghamton sends McHale and The 73 Crew on a recon mission to a supposedly deserted island, where they make a ‘Home away from home' to enjoy themselves, away from the base. But, the U.S. Navy, as well as the Japanese, become suspicious, when they observe unusual activity on the island.
Episode 10: The Battle of McHale's Island
McHale and the boys cook up a scheme to keep Binghamton from building a new Officer's Club on McHale's island.
Episode 11: The Day They Captured Santa Claus
Mchale decides for Christmas he and the crew of PT-73 will pay a visit to the Sister Monique and the children dressed up in a Santa Claus outfit and elf outfits. Mchale would parachute from a plane first and meet the kids and PT-73 would follow a little while after. Mchale jumps in his Santa outfit but when he lands he finds the island was overtaken by Japanese and was captured. Mchale as usual cons he's why through the itterogation and he claims that a new secret weapon is on it's way, just then PT-73 arrives singing Christmas carrols and dressed in elf outfits. The Japanese commander becomes scared fearing that this was some kind new of physcological warfare and he surrenders.
Episode 12: Beauty and the Beast
A Photo Journalist for the Office of War Information – An extremely unpleasant person, with whom McHale is familiar – Is sent to Taratupa to do a story on PT Boats and their Crews. Through a case of mistaken identity, McHale and the boys are stuck with her, and must scheme to try to get rid of her.
Episode 13: The Captain's Mission
Binghamton's reputation as a ‘desk jockey' brings on a desire for some real combat experience, so, while McHale is away at New Caledonia, he assumes command of the 73, and goes out looking for action, with disappointing results.