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When a mystery man named Lawson (Eyal Podell) takes the fang gang hostage, Angel (David Boreanaz) must deal with the consequences of an encounter with the kidnapper decades earlier. In flashbacks, the Angel of 1943 finds his life of quiet apathy interrupted by government agents who conscript him for a dangerous mission to rescue American sailors who have become trapped aboard a Nazi U-boat while attempting to smuggle out important intelligence. The reluctant hero dives down to the submarine and breaks in through its torpedo tubes, only to discover Spike (James Marsters) in league with the Nazis -- or at least snacking on them. With vampires and Nazis alike stalking the American servicemen -- including Lawson, then a young sailor -- Angel must make some hard choices in order to fulfill his mission. Unfortunately for Fred (Amy Acker), Gunn (J. August Richards), and the gang, those choices will come back to haunt him 61 years later. Originally broadcast February 11, 2004, on the WB network, "Why We Fight" marked season five, episode 13 of the supernatural soap opera. Camden Toy, who has played numerous villains under layers of latex on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, appears as a Nosferatu-esque vampire in this episode.