The Story:
In the summer of 1940 close-knit Oklahoma National Guard men from Green Hill including lifelong best friends Gil Hackett (John Derek) and Tom McCreery (John Drew Barrymore) finish maneuvers and both romance Mary Caldwell (Eileen Christy) until Congress mobilizes the unit with its Thunderbird patch sending them to camp where clashes erupt with Sgt. Durkee (Barton MacLane) and Mary chooses Tom leaving Gil to find solace with Lt. Ellen Henderson (Mona Freeman).
After Pearl Harbor the Thunderbirds deploy to North Africa Sicily and Italy where soldier Keith Watson (Scott Elliott) spreads rumors that Tom’s father was dishonorably discharged in World War I and Sgt. Logan (Ward Bond) refuses a rescue when Tom vanishes behind lines yet proves heroic before the truth emerges that Logan is actually Tom’s father John McCreery who reenlisted under a false name to redeem his name.
As the unit storms Southern France into Germany the soldiers cement unbreakable bonds validating the fierce legacy of these citizen-soldiers in a stirring tribute to the real 45th Infantry Division.
