Gung Ho!

Lieutenant C.J. Cristoforos announces that the US Marine Corps is seeking volunteers for a dangerous mission and a special unit. The call draws a diverse group of volunteers with starkly different backgrounds and motives. The goal is to assemble a crack team capable of working together under extreme conditions.

The volunteers include a hillbilly able to claim he can kill, an ordained minister named Harbison, a tough boxer called 'Pig Iron', and Frankie Montana from Brooklyn who resents being called a 'no-good kid.' Other contenders include fighting brothers, a Filipino seeking vengeance, and veterans wary of the enemy. Each brings a different motivation to the mission and to the team dynamic.

Sgt. 'Transport' Anderof is reunited with the unit's commander, Lt. Col. Thorwald. Thorwald explains his history of serving with the Chinese Eighth Route Army against the Japanese and why he formed this unit. He emphasizes a philosophy of cohesion and mutual support.

Thorwald outlines the plan to build a unit around teamwork and interdependence, drawing inspiration from 'Gung Ho.' He explains that individual bravery must be paired with coordinated action. The troops begin to embrace this philosophy as the program begins to take shape.

Those who survive the initial selection move on to rigorous training. The most capable are chosen to proceed to the next stage, while others are weeded out. The process emphasizes physical readiness, skill diversity, and teamwork.

The selected volunteers are sent to Hawaii for further jungle warfare training. They confront demanding terrain, limited supplies, and tough exercises designed to simulate combat conditions. The experience hardens them and tests their resolve as a unit.

While in Hawaii, the Raiders witness the devastation caused by the attack on Pearl Harbor. The scouts see the impact on American resolve and the urgency to strike back. The mood shifts from training to imminent deployment.

A radio bulletin in Hawaii announces the Battle of Guadalcanal, rallying the men to prepare for a major offensive. The news heightens the sense of purpose and the urgency of their mission. It marks a shift from training to real-world wartime operations.

The Raiders are ordered to board two submarines destined for a commando raid on a Japanese-held island. The plan requires stealth and precision, leveraging the submarine route for surprise. The team steels themselves for the dangerous night-time assault.

The crew endures a claustrophobic voyage aboard compact submarines as they close in on their target. Tension rises amid limited air, tight spaces, and the uncertainty of their mission. The transit tests endurance as they near the enemy island.

The Marines disembark from rubber boats and hit the beach under fire. They navigate hostile terrain as they establish a foothold on the Japanese-held island. The initial assault sets the tempo for the rest of the mission.

Snipers hiding in palm trees open fire, forcing the Raiders to adapt quickly. The Marines press the attack and methodically neutralize the threat from the vantage points. The firefight underscores the danger of the island environment.

The Raiders assault the Japanese headquarters and push toward the center of resistance. They overwhelm defenders and secure a strategic position. The operation demonstrates the unit's cohesion and aggression in close-quarters combat.

Explosives are used to destroy critical installations and facilities. The garrison is eliminated or dispersed, and allied forces gain a decisive advantage. The raid's destructive actions cripple enemy capabilities on the island.

With the objective achieved, the Raiders reboard their submarines for the return journey home. They reflect on the mission's risks and the camaraderie that carried them through. The successful raid strengthens morale and demonstrates the power of teamwork.