Along with 30 other soldiers, Ned boards an alligator landing boat, which is lowered into the water almost three miles from shore. The alligator moves slowly, and as they near the island, the Marines wait until the US bombardment is complete before coming ashore. Other Marines in Ned’s boat seem confident that any enemies on the beach were killed in the bombing, but as they hit the beach, the eight boats containing Ned’s wave of soldiers face a barrage of enemy fire. Ned and Georgia Boy make it far enough inland to dig a foxhole and shelter there.

Later, Ned learns that of the 12 landing zones in the operation, theirs was the most heavily guarded by Japanese forces. Despite the unexpected resistance, the US military was still able to take the beach—all 14,000 Marines and their 600 tons of equipment. Ned and the other code talkers begin relaying messages right away.

After the conflict, when the beach is calm, Solomon Islanders appear out of the jungle. Ned and Georgia Boy speak with one man who seems glad to see the US forces. The indigenous people here have endured months of brutal Japanese occupation. As Ned falls asleep, he realizes that the battle to take Bougainville was fought without him ever laying eyes on an enemy soldier.