Hail the Conquering Hero

Hail the Conquering Hero 1944 is a satirical comedydrama written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson, Bill Edwards and Freddie Steele.

Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith Eddie Bracken is a small town boy whose father, Hinky Dinky Truesmith, was a Marine who died a hero in World War I. Woodrow has been discharged from the Marine Corps after only a month owing to his chronic hay fever. Rather than disappoint his mother Georgia Caine, he pretends to be fighting overseas in World War II while secretly working in a San Diego shipyard.In a chance encounter in a bar he buys a round of drinks for six Marines back from the Battle of Guadalcanal headed by Master Gunnery Sergeant Heffelfinger William Demarest. It transpires Heffelfinger had served with Woodrows father in the 6th Marines in World War I. One of the Marines decides to telephone Woodrows mother, telling her that he has received a medical discharge, so she will not have to worry about him. Woodrow is vehemently opposed to the fraud, but the Marines are all for it. Heffelfinger embellishes the charade by having Woodrow swap coats with one of the Marines that have the 1st Marine Division Battle Blaze and Pacific Theatre of Operations medals on it. ........

Source: Wikipedia