Here Come the Marines

Slip is drafted into the Marines, and the rest of his gang volunteers to enlist so they can stay close. The group begins adjusting to military life and the discipline that comes with it. This marks the start of their intertwining destinies.

Sach is punished for impersonating a doctor. Later, while on KP duty, he creates a bouillon capable of melting any known metal, showcasing his reckless inventiveness. These incidents set him apart from the rest of the unit.

In the colonel's office, Sach faces punishment for his misconduct. He discovers that his father, Horace Hard Head Debussey Sr, served with the colonel in WWI and earned the rank of sergeant. The revelation links Sach to a storied family history within the unit.

Sach begins using sharp drills and a piercing whistle to keep the unit on its toes. His relentless discipline earns him the ire of the men and creates friction within the platoon. The dynamic sets up ongoing tension as they train.

During a march, the Marines discover a soldier left for dead on the roadside. They provide aid and assess the wounded man’s condition. The moment underscores the dangers they face and foreshadows the unit's camaraderie under pressure.

Slip finds a playing card near the wounded Marine and traces it to Jolly Joe Johnson's gambling house. The clue ties the squad to the town's gambling scene and hints at corruption behind the losses. The pursuit raises stakes for the team.

The Marines visit the casino and suspect cheating after losing all their money. They discuss the rigged games and the impact on their morale. The episode deepens the conflict with the gambling ring.

Back at the base, they try to bust Sach back down to private by slipping an inert training bomb into his bed. The plan aims to trigger punishment and force a disciplinary collapse. Instead, MPs arrive, scold Sach for missing a dud, and the bomb explodes out the barracks window.

An official confrontation reveals the bomb was a dud, yet Sach's actions during the incident earn recognition. He is awarded a medal for heroism and promoted to staff sergeant. The unexpected turn reinforces his ascent within the unit.

For leading the men during a field exercise, Sach is promoted to tech sergeant. The promotion cements his rising status within the unit. It marks a new peak in his military career so far.

Several days later, the boys break into the gambling house at night and are discovered by Jolly Joe and his gang. A fight ensues, but two Marine intelligence officers arrive to arrest the criminals. The law begins to close in on their scheme.

Sach, framed for having a girl in the barracks, is stripped of his promotions. A new colonel arrives and wrestles with a soldier named Wildcat Terry Mahoney. The unit's cohesion strains under the shifting leadership.

Under the guise of being a relation, Slip is promoted and promptly takes Sach on a long drill to settle scores. He reveals he has no idea who Wildcat Mahoney is, complicating the feud and exposing the tangled rivalries within the unit.