His condemned life as a third-generation slave meant laboring in the hot sun under harsh conditions and under he threat of whips and death.The wealthy Bannister and Michael talk about the latter""s desire to quit his job and his disinterest in making money.Politely, he picks up her string-tied parcels, his second-in-command sidekick Dutch Engstrom (Ernest Borgnine) offers to carry them, and then Pike takes her arm o assist her across the street.He views he formation called the Ant Hill through a narrow slit.He is clearly out of place and ill-at-ease as he marches through the muddy, narrow renches to inform 701st Infantry Regimental Commander Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) of the planned attack.