The story follows a young college who is about to graduate when World War II breaks out, and he joins the Navy. He is assigned to the USS Cassin as she is being rebuilt after Pearl Harbor. The story follows Lieutenant Pembrooke and the USS Cassin as they journey through the war. The story is how the small warships (destroyers) affected the war but didn't get all the glory. Lieutenant Pembrooke is wounded near the end of the war but is able to return home to his wife and daughter.