U.S. Marines are dug in and ready in First to Fight, a World War II saga that takes its title from the Marine Hymn, its battle savvy from the techical guidance of a Marine veteran of Saipan and Iwo Jima–and its power from a script by Star Trek veteran Gene L. Coon, himself a Marine sergeant during World War II and the Korean War.
Jack Connell (Chad Everett) survives overwhelming battle action on Guadalcanal. Yet his toughest test lies ahead. After a stateside hitch where he receives the Congressional Medal of Honor and marries, he's no longer a gung-ho devil dog when back in combat. Connell is frozen with fear–until an unflinching Sarge (Gene Hackman) rekindles his courage. Featured player Hackman would achieve acclaim and stardom later that year in another movie troop, playing Bonnie and Clyde's Buck Barrow.
