HavingbeendischargedfromtheMarinesforahayfeverconditionbeforeeverseeingaction,WoodrowLafayettePershingTruesmith(EddieBracken)delaysthereturntohishometown,feelingthatheisafailure.Whileinamomentofmelancholy,hemeetsupwithagroupofMarineswhobefriendhimandencouragehimtoreturnhometohismotherbyfabricatingastorythathewaswoundedinbattlewithhonorabledischarge.TheymakehimwearauniformcompletewithmedalsandispushedbyhisnewfriendsintoacceptingaHero'swelcomewhenhegetshomewhereheistobeimmortalizedbyastatuethathedoesn'twant,hassongswrittenabouthisheroicbattlestories,andendsupunwillinglyrunningformayor.Despitehisbesteffortstoexplainthetruth,noonewilllisten.