Lieutenant C.J. Cristoforos (played by J. Carrol Naish) announces that the United States Marine Corps is seeking volunteers for a hazardous mission and a special unit. The call draws a cross-section of men with starkly different backgrounds and motives, all drawn by the chance to do something decisive in the war against Japan. Among the volunteers are Robert Mitchum as 'Pig iron' Matthews, a tough, poverty-hardened boxer who bluntly states that he already knows how to kill; Alan Curtis as John Harbison, an ordained minister who volunteers for the most dangerous assignment because that is where he can do the most good; Harold Landon as Frankie Montana, a Brooklyn-born recruit who resents being called a “no-good kid” and who must prove his worth after an initial rebuff; David Bruce as Larry O'Ryan, a brotherly rival of another recruit; and Noah Beery Jr. as Kurt Richter, a tough marine with his own private agenda. The group also includes a Filipino fighter committed to avenging his sister who was caught in Manila, a Marine whose brother died at Pearl Harbor, a veteran who fought fascism in Spain and Greece, and a man who coldly admits, “I just don’t like Japs.”
Sgt. Leo 'Transport' Andreof is reunited with the unit’s commander, Lt. Col. Thorwald. Thorwald (a dramatic symbol of unconventional warfare) explains his unusual path: he left the Marine Corps to serve with the Chinese Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, to learn about the enemy and gauge their chances. From that experience he forms a new unit built on the philosophy of teamwork and cooperation—something he terms “Gung Ho” in spirit. Thorwald’s plan isn’t simply to strike at the enemy but to forge a cohesive team that can operate with confidence and precision in dangerous conditions. Sam Levene as Leo 'Transport' Andreof is the one who reconnects with Thorwald, driven by a shared sense of duty and the anticipation of action.
After rigorous training, the Raiders head to Hawaii for advanced jungle warfare instruction, where they personally witness the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack. While there, a radio bulletin crackles through the airwaves announcing the ongoing Battle of Guadalcanal, signaling a shift from preparation to real, high-stakes combat. The Marines are ordered to board two submarines destined for a daring commando raid on a Japanese-held island, and the mood shifts from camaraderie to focused tension as the team steels itself for the mission ahead.
The voyage is claustrophobic, testing nerves and resolve as the Raiders approach their target by rubber boats. Once ashore, they face immediate danger from snipers hidden in palm trees. The assault intensifies as they move to the Japanese headquarters, quickly overpower the garrison, and neutralize key installations using explosives. The mission culminates with a perilous withdrawal to the submarines, bringing the operation full circle: from nerve-wracking recruitment to a battered but successful return home, with the volunteers having proven that their diverse backgrounds could come together under pressure to accomplish a shared goal.
> I just don’t like Japs
In the end, the raid showcases a mosaic of characters—each driven by personal reasons, each tested by extreme circumstances—who, despite their differences, find a common purpose in service. The story blends character-driven moments with brisk, action-oriented sequences, offering a window into how a unit formed from disparate backgrounds can function as a cohesive force when the stakes are highest.
