"War Stories" is an episode of JAG that first aired on January 13, 1999. Directed by Greg Beeman. Written by Dana Coen.
The episode begins with a "Previously on JAG" segment, which is just a repeat of the last scene from the previous episode (the rest of the episode had nothing to do with the situation in Kosovo). The JAG staff sees the ZNN report about the three NATO observers held hostage by terrorists in Kosovo, and Chegwidden hints that a SEAL team has been dispatched to effect a rescue. Then we see that the SEAL team got there too late: the observers were killed by hanging.
Chegwidden has to take excess leave before the end of the month, so he appoints Rabb Acting JAG. Chegwidden is restless at home, so he goes back to JAG HQ to find that Rabb authorized a Hollywood production company to shoot some scenes for a movie titled Field of Gold there.
Chegwidden points out an inaccuracy in an extra's enlisted sailor uniform and gets hired as a military consultant for the film. He also suggests to the producers that they cast a woman for the important supporting rôle of Lt. Mulberry, which they do.
The actress cast gets along very well with Chegwidden and is even at his house when Rabb pays him a visit to seek his advice. The movie is three days behind schedule when they shoot a scene in which Lt. Mulberry has to throw a terrorist off the weather deck of a carrier. However, it looks like the stunt man is throwing himself.
The director (Brian George) thinks it's "a question of leverage." Chegwidden offers a number of suggestions, including that the actress get some training at a Navy facility where she can learn, for one thing, to properly trim her nails. Irked by this, the actress goes to her dressing room. The director is unwilling to listen to any more suggestions from Chegwidden. The producer fires Chegwidden.
Commander Risnicki (Alex Carter), leader of the SEAL team, is charged with involuntary manslaughter by culpable negligence and disobeying an order. Mac and Roberts defend, Brumby prosecutes.
The prosecution alleges that by delaying the mission past the deadline given by the terrorists without consulting the chain of command, Risnicki allowed the NATO observers to be killed. The defense counters that given the cold, foggy conditions, Risnicki would've needlessly sacrificed the lives of the entire SEAL team if he had gone ahead with the mission as ordered.
Mac brings up the military record of General Plesac (Michael Shannon), who as a lieutenant in Vietnam obeyed orders to take a village, and in so doing sacrificed lives on both sides. The SecNav is angered by that strategy and comes to JAG HQ to yell at Rabb.
Rabb goes to Mac's office to ask for Plesac's record, which he then hands to Ensign Sims with orders to make a copy for him and return the original to Mac. As this goes on, Risnicki has lost confidence in Roberts's ability, who, as it turns out, hasn't even yet passed the bar.
Risnicki tells Mac to suggest to Roberts he remove himself from the case, or else he'll have him officially removed. Roberts is in the middle of interviewing Chief Schilling (Eric Ware) when Mac tells him this. Roberts says he'd like to finish the interview with Schilling first.
Schilling tells Roberts that the bodies of the NATO observers were stiff when the SEAL team turned them over to him. Roberts then decides that he will not remove himself and barges into Mac's office. After talking with Rabb, Risnicki decides to let Roberts on the case and argue that the NATO observers were killed long before his SEAL team got there.
In closing statements, Brumby harps on the importance of the chain of command, while Mac argues that the terrorists pretended to hold the observers hostage as a ploy to draw more NATO personnel into a trap. The members find Risnicki not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of disobeying an order. Risnicki apologizes to Roberts. The issue of sentencing is a plot thread left dangling.
Back from leave, Chegwidden orders that the JAG kitchen be stocked with some of the amenities of Hollywood catering. Roberts and Sims ask Chegwidden for permission to name their gestating son after him. Chegwidden says he'd be honored by their naming their son "Albert Jethro Roberts." The expecting parents are horrified by the admiral's middle name.
Tropes
- Alphabet News Network: ZNN for CNN.
- Captain Obvious: Early on, Risnicki's annoyed by Roberts asking questions with answers which Risnicki considers obvious. "You are a master of the obvious," Risnicki says to Roberts with great condescension.
- Horrible Hollywood: The cast and crew of Field of Gold don't really care about military authenticity. They quickly tire of Chegwidden and fire him. Presumably they continue the shoot without a military consultant.
- Previously on…: For the extremely clumsy cliffhanger from the previous episode.
- Product Placement: One of the Field of Gold producers drinks Evian bottled water when she first meets Chegwidden. She takes a swig so the camera can get a good shot of the bottle. The "E" can't be seen clearly, but the "vian" is very easy to see.
- TV Telephone Etiquette: Chegwidden angrily ends a phone call to Rabb saying "You can count on it!" As Brumby's in the room, Rabb pretends he didn't just get hung up on, so he says "Yes, sir."
- With All Due Respect: Although perturbed by Risnicki wanting him off the case, Roberts reamins resolute to do his best on the case. "I don't mean to be impertinent, commander, major, but will all due respect, you can't get rid of me that easily."
- Workaholic: Chegwidden can barely cope with being forced to take time off from work. He's so bored at home that he actually visits the JAG office, which is what led him to be hired as a military consultant in the first place.
