The first amphibious assault since the battle of gallipoli in 19 15. A hastily thrown together rehearsal near fi j that does not go well and leads to a sense of foreboding about what's about to happen. By the end, only 11 days before the marines are scheduled to hit the beach, a rather extraordinary meeting occurs on the aircraft carrier S saratoga. It's the only get together between the commanders on the scene here that's going to happen before the attack.