During the Second World Wara reporter (Burgess Meredith) follows a US troop from North-Africa to Rome. The troop is commanded by a tenent (Robert Mitchum) who has a close bond with his soldiers. Supported by the propagandistic climate of the time, the film relates to the memories of one of the screenwriters, correspondent Ernie Pyle. By now Ivens is widely known in the USA as a film-maker on the front, so he is hired as a consultant for the documentary's war scenes. During the shooting of The Story of G.I. Joe the director meets Marion Michelle, his future partner and collaborator.