Saunders gets a replacement, Mason, who is completely self-centered and detestable, and he immediately antagonizes everyone in the squad. While on a mission, they are caught in the open with little cover, and they are pinned down by a well entrenched German infantry supported by a machine gun. Mason, badly wounded and unable to get himself to cover, is used by the Germans to tempt the Americans to expose themselves by trying to rescue him. The other GIs are posed with the ethical decision of leaving him behind or risking their lives trying to save the detestable Mason. It is highly dramatic to watch as one GI after another comes to grips with his own ethics and makes the decision to risk his own life trying to save Mason - not because of any redeeming value in Mason, but because of their own humanity.
—David Wile