A Marine platoon of 45 men is ordered to hold a mountain pass near Wosan early in the Korean War, when Chinese Communists were swarming all over MacArthur's tiny army. Quinlivan is mortally wounded and hands over his command to Towler (Sidney Poitier), a novice sergeant, which angers most of the men since Kincaid (Alan Ladd) is the most experienced soldier in the platoon. While holding position at a mountain pass during the Korean War, a platoon leader is mortally wounded and gives command to an inexperienced sergeant (Oscar Winner Sidney Poitier), angering the unit's more battle-hardened soldiers.