In World War II, a group of raw recruits join the U.S. Marines. They come from all walks of life and go through boot camp together. After basic training, and are sent to Camp Elliott and the 2nd Battalion of the 6th Marines commanded by Major Sam Huxley. His job is now to make them into an effective fighting unit. They leave family and girlfriends behind but soon meet new people, fall in love, and fall out of love. In November 1942, they shipped out arriving first in New Zealand for advanced training and from there on to Guadalcanal. Tarawa is their next mission but Huxley has to pull strings to get his battalion into front line action. He gets his wish with the invasion of Saipan.
—garykmcd