Determination

Determination is a dominant theme of the book. The characters are determined to succeed in whatever they do, no matter how dangerous the task is. This is especially true in the actions of the Operation Pickle team. They are all volunteers for the extremely dangerous mission of extracting two Marines from Baku Island and putting in a replacement team and supplies. The island where the Coastwatchers station, Ferdinand Six, is located, is small and occupied by the Japanese. Ken McCoy is the Marine chosen by Fleming Pickering to formulate a plan to rescue the men. Like Pickering, McCoy believes that Marines never abandon other Marines. The plan McCoy formulates has to be changed at the last minute due to the roughness of the sea around the island. The men quickly adapt to the alternate plan. They have to fight the surf and rocks to reach the beach with...