The 73 is out on patrol and spots the Yakamura. The battleship opens fire on them and McHale panics. Parker slaps him and takes over, ordering full speed ahead...
… and Parker finishes the entry in his novel about the war. Fuji comes in, startling Parker.
Later, Parker is working on his novel again when McHale brings in a letter for him. It's from Parker's girl, Mary, and she says that she's dating a hot-shot Air Force pilot. The crew commiserates with him, telling him that things will work out. Parker walks out and the crew figures that they have to get Mary back for Parker. Gruber suggests that they send her Parker's war novel and claim that he did it.
Soon, Mary has the local newspaper print Parker's story on the front page.
The 73 returns from patrol and Parker is too busy moping to notice that they're going to hit Binghamton's gig. McHale notices but is unable to swing the 73 around in time. They get Binghamton and Carpenter out of the water and Parker take full blame. Binghamton relieves Parker of duty and he's soon spraying bugs. McHale and the crew find him and Gruber gives him a letter from Mary. In it she says that she loves him. Binghamton hears them and orders Parker into his office.
Congressman Fogelson soon reads the article about Parker and calls the Navy. He wants to make sure Parker gets a medal, and goes over to explain when they say that they've never heard of Parker sinking the Yakamura.
Binghamton is berating Parker when Carpenter brings him a message saying that Fogelson is flying in to present Parker with a medal. Carpenter figures that it's for Binghamton, but Binghamton figures that he had to do something to earn a medal. Once he's alone, Binghamton rehearses his acceptance speech. McHale comes in to demand that Parker be returned to active duty.
Carpenter runs in followed by Admiral Elliot, and says that Fogelson is arriving on the next plane. The Pentagon sent Elliot ahead to prepare for the medal ceremony... to honor Parker. Parker comes in, covered in dirt, and Binghamton claims that he's on a special espionage detail. Elliott offers to buy Parker a drink at the officer's club and Binghamton quickly agrees.
At the hutch, Virgil shows the other crew the newspaper article with their letter in it. McHale comes in to find Parker, figuring that something is up. He calls Parker in, and Parker requests permission to take the 73 out for a sub hunt. He pulls a pin on a grenade to demonstrate how he's going to take out the sub, and tosses it outside when McHale points out that it's live. Binghamton is coming in and gets caught in the blast. Parker admits that he threw the grenade, and Binghamton quickly assures him it was fine. He says that he's picked Parker as his personal aide to prepare for the medal ceremony. Once they leave, the crew finally tells McHale what they did.
A Japanese officer sees the newspaper and is less than thrilled.
Carpenter shows Binghamton the newspaper, and Binghamton is less than thrilled. Binghamton figures that it's one of McHale's tricks and calls Admiral Rogers. Rogers believes the story and Binghamton, furious, orders Carpenter out. Parker arrives and Binghamton congratulates him on sinking the Yakamura. He shows Parker the newspaper, just as McHale comes in. He says that it's a phony story but Binghamton insists that it's real. Parker tries to explain that it's a chapter from his war novel, but Binghamton figures that Parker is covering up for McHale's cowardice. He tells McHale to get the crew lined up for the medal presentation.
When Fogelson arrives, Binghamton introduces him to Parker. Elliot presents Parker, and Fogelson echoes Parker's story thinking McHale is a coward. They begin the ceremony and Fogelson starts to present the award. The Yakamura opens fire on the base and everyone takes cover. American bombers arrive and attack the Yakamura, sinking the battleship.
Fogelson demands an explanation and Elliot points out that Parker did sink the Yakamura. He explains that Naval intelligence knew the story was false but went along with it. They hoped that the Japanese would bring the Yakamura out in the open where they could get a crack at it, and their plan worked. Fogelson quickly congratulates Parker, who accidentally sets off an AA gun and everyone takes cover again.
Later, Parker is working on another chapter where he blows up Tokyo. McHale throws away the typewriter and drags Parker out.
Written by Gadfly on Mar 5, 2017