General Douglas MacArthur once said that a service person's greatest reward is leaving service with an honorable discharge knowing that he did a good job for his country. So many young service people who want out and deliberately screw up to get a bad discharge don't realize in the stupidity of youth how bad this can be and how it can mess up the rest of your life just like Paul the wayward sailor in this film. In the opening his mother is overjoyed when she gets a telegram saying he is coming home after being discharged and he is welcomed like a conquering hero but he is more like a prodigal son. The first hint that something is wrong is the fact he is not in uniform when he gets off the train. He complains about rules and regulations and how the service doesn't let you "Do what you want to do" he seems to prefer working in a factory because "school is a lot of work!" It turns out Paul isn't such a great young guy after all. He confesses to his girlfriend that he got into trouble on purpose to get a bad conduct discharge. His girlfriend is immediately repulsed and gives him his walking papers as well! He finds out he is ineligible for on the job training, home loans, business loans, education benefits and so many other things because of his bcd. In the end he is all alone contemplating a bleak future. Every young service person today needs to see this film as a cautionary tale.
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