Assigned to the Pacific, Marine lieutenant Anderson (Richard Widmark) and his men must thwart a Japanese rocket-launching facility in this World War II epic. Ex-schoolteacher Anderson uses the right touch in handling veterans Pidgeon Lane (Jack Palance) and Doc (Karl Malden) and raw recruit Coffman (Robert Wagner), but the soldiers are outnumbered. In order for their mission to succeed, Anderson must lead a band of men into enemy territory.