From Here to Eternity is the story of one of America's greatest tragedies. It begins as viewers see soldiers marching through the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in 1941. Pvt. Robert E. Lee "Prew" Prewitt has just been transferred, and his friend Pvt. Angelo Maggio meets him. Maggio knows that Prew is the best bugler they have. Prew decides to have a look around while waiting for the captain. He begins playing pool until another man, 1st Sgt. Milton Warden, tells him to stop and follow him.

A few minutes later the captain, Capt. Dana "Dynamite" Holmes, comes in to talk to Prew. Dynamite tells Prew that people can move up quickly if he likes them. Prew admits that he's transferring due to personal reasons. Warden forces him to tell the truth. After being put down from his spot as first bugler, Prew transferred. The men...