Pride of the Marines

Philadelphia steel worker Al Schmid, John Garfield, has no plans for marriage until he meets Ruth Hartley, whose warmth and steadiness spark a quick, undeniable connection. As their bond deepens, the couple imagines a shared life together, finding ordinary comfort in quiet moments and everyday honesty. The war outside many would call inevitable only makes their commitment feel more precious, a bright thread weaving through the fabric of an ordinary man’s life.

When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Al answers the call and leaves for the Marines. Before he departs, he summons the courage to propose to Ruth on the bustle-filled platform of a train station, asking her to wait for him amid the uncertainty of war and distance. Ruth’s steady presence keeps faith alive, and the two exchange vows in a simple, hopeful moment that promises resilience through whatever comes next.

In August 1942, on the island of Guadalcanal, Al is part of a M1917 Browning machine gun crew at a gun emplacement, joining his buddies Lee Diamond, [Dane Clark], and Johnny Rivers, [Anthony Caruso], of “H” Company, 2nd Battalion, First Marines. The Battle of the Tenaru tests them with a brutal onslaught, and the unit fights hard, managing to kill a substantial number of enemy troops despite the chaos around them. The violence takes a toll: Rivers is killed, Diamond is wounded, and Al is blinded by a hand grenade. The physical scar is severe, but the emotional impact is even heavier as he confronts a future defined by his new reality.

Back stateside, Al begins a grueling rehabilitation, trying to relearn what was once second nature while Diamond offers quiet, persistent encouragement. Yet the path to adjustment is thorny: Al clings to his independence, resenting the loss of sight and fearing Ruth’s pity. He resolves to push through on his own terms, even as Ruth remains a steady beacon of support, never wavering in her belief that they can face the future together.

News arrives that Al will be awarded the Navy Cross, a ceremony that will take place in Philadelphia, his hometown. Diamond accompanies him, and the two men navigate the uncertain feelings that come with reentry and recognition. Ruth, ever resourceful, helps to orchestrate a delicate ruse: she and Diamond plan to make Al believe he is being taken to a hospital, while in truth he is being guided home. They reach Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, and the plan unfolds as Ruth and Diamond lead him up the stairs toward the house where he truly belongs. The moment is charged with emotion as Al realizes he is home, and Ruth’s reassurance rings clear: his blindness does not diminish her love, and together they will face whatever comes next.

At the Navy Yard ceremony, Al re-experiences Guadalcanal in a new light, the memory reframing his understanding of courage, loss, and the life he hoped to rebuild. Ruth’s steadfast presence and the promise they share become the emotional compass that guides him forward. In a quiet, intimate exchange that seals their pact, Ruth tells him there are no guarantees about sight, only about facing the future side by side. > it’s fuzzy, but it’s red. Whichever way it is, we’ll do it together. And with that, a hopeful resolve carries them home, where the cabbie is instructed to take them to their door and the next chapter of their lives begins.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:23