Baby Blue Marine

Marion 'Hedge' Hedgepeth fails to complete his Marine recruit training in San Diego and is discharged in a basic baby-blue uniform, which was leftover military surplus. He is sent home in civilian clothes, earning the derogatory nickname 'Baby Blue Marine'.

While traveling by bus to St. Louis, Hedge meets a battle-scarred Marine Raider veteran at a stopover. The veteran, aged beyond his years, is highly decorated and shows signs of wartime trauma. He secretly trades uniforms with Hedge to avoid returning to war.

Penniless and wearing a Raider uniform, Hedge hitchhikes to the small town of Bidwell, California, near Mount Shasta. His uniform's decorations make him appear as a hero to the local community, whose young men are away fighting in WWII.

In the town, Hedge is befriended by waitress Rose and Mr. Elmore, who has lost his son in the Pearl Harbor attack. Hedge also meets Private Danny Phelps, a young soldier awaiting his next assignment, creating bonds with the local residents.

Rose invites Hedge to stay with her family, and he bunked with her brother Barney. The growing relationship prompts Hedge to reveal his true story to Rose, confiding that he has kept quiet about his uniform and past to protect the real Raider.

Three American-born Japanese-American boys escape from a nearby internment camp. The local community and inexperienced army troops, including Private Phelps, participate in searching for the boys, revealing underlying tensions around the internment.

Hedge locates the escapees in the woods, and they confess they are attempting to return to San Francisco because they believe they are being unfairly interned. Hedge’s discovery highlights the innocence and naivety of the boys amidst wartime suspicion.

Private Phelps, with a hostile attitude towards the Japanese-American boys, spots Hedge and shoots him, causing Hedge to fall into a mountain stream's rapids. It is a moment of intense conflict driven by wartime prejudice.

Japanese-American boys, along with Mr. Elmore and a repentant Phelps, save Hedge from drowning after he is heavily bleeding. Hedge, fearing for his life, urges Rose to tell his true story, emphasizing the significance of truth and reconciliation.

After the war ends, Hedge returns to Bidwell and Rose, having served as a corporal under General Patton in the U.S. Third Army. His return signifies closure, and the experience leaves a lasting impact on him and the community.