Jack Stecker is the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Fifth Marines on Guadalcanal. He had worked at the Army's Infantry Center and was very knowledgeable about guns. Stecker had served in Shanghai and was considered to be knowledgeable about the Japanese. He is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on Guadalcanal and then is relieved of his unit and sent to Australia. Then he is promoted to Colonel and recommended for promotion to Brigadier General.