On the train to Philadelphia, Al (John Garfield) talks to Lee (Dane Clark) about the difficulty he anticipates in getting a job for a blind man. Lee responds that because he, Lee, is Jewish, he has trouble finding a job as well and then waxes philosophic about a day when people aren't discriminated against for any reason. Both Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkel) and Clark (born Bernard Elliot Zanville) were New York-born sons of Russian Jewish immigrants.
Off the 800 attacking Japanese soldiers, only 16 survived. Of those, the commander Colonel Ichiki committed suicide, 14 were wounded. And one, solitary soldier of the 800 escaped unwounded.
The Japanese attack came at 03:00. 800 Japanese attacked Al Schmid's unit (2nd Battalion 1st Marines) line. In order to recapture Henderson Field. After Rivers was killed, Schmid continued to fire his gun for 4 hours. At times his gun glowed red hot.
"Academy Award Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on June 15, 1946 with John Garfield reprising his film role.
Al Schmid was promoted to Corporal shortly after he was awarded the Navy Cross and later made Sergeant.