Gunnery Sergeant Ed Karl is transfer from the China Marines to the newly formed Carlson Raiders 2nd Raider Battalion in December 1941 in San Diego California. The sole purpose of the Raider Battalions, there were two, was to conduct amphibious light infantry warfare behind enemy lines. In this case the Battalion was to land on Japanese islands to gain intelligence information..
While stationed in San Diego Ed met his future wile who is a Navy Nurse, who eventually follows him through the war in the South Pacific at various times.