Army Girl 1938

Captain Dike Conger, [Preston Foster], an officer with the Thirty-first Cavalry Regiment, is tasked with determining whether tanks should replace the horses used by the unit. His trusted mechanic, Master Sergeant Hennessy, [James Gleason], supports him, while many among the ranks prefer to keep the traditional horse cavalry.

On a blind date set up by his friend Captain Bob Marvin, [Ralph Byrd], Conger asserts the date should be a civilian, not an army girl. Due to a mix-up, his date turns out to be Julie Armstrong [Madge Evans], the daughter of camp commander Colonel Armstrong [H.B. Warner]. Despite his initial misgivings about army girls, Conger falls in love with Julie.

A formal test shows that tanks are more effective than horses, and the unit awaits a final decision from Washington. Conger and Julie decide to marry, but just before he can tell Colonel Armstrong, the colonel reveals the decision and says he will replace Conger as post commander. Julie, angered by the turn of events, breaks the engagement.

Upset at the decision to retire cavalry in favor of mechanized tanks, a rival, Ross [Guinn “Big Boy” Williams], sabotages the tank that would carry Conger and his men at the transition ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the colonel decides to drive to the ceremony with Three Star Hennessy instead of Conger, and both are killed in the wreck caused by Ross’s action. Captain Joe Schuyler [Neil Hamilton], a rival for Julie’s affections, reaches the tank and hears Hennessy’s dying words implicating Ross, but chooses not to tell anyone. Instead, Schuyler proposes to Julie, who rejects him, and he realizes that she will never love him.

In the aftermath, Schuyler confronts Ross to force a confession before military judges, exonerating Conger, who reconciles with Julie.