From Here To Eternity: James Jones

Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt is transferred to a new post at G Company, an infantry unit of the United States army posted at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Prewitt is a career soldier with six years of service behind him, known as a "thirty year man". He is also a top notch bugle player and a one time boxer. Formerly in a bugle company, he was transferred with a lowering of rank after making a complaint that an inferior bugler was promoted ahead of him. His CO is Captain 'Dynamite' Holmes, who asked for Prewitt for his past as a boxer - 'Dynamite' is a regimental boxing coach who is out for promotion and sees a winning boxing team headed by Prewitt as his road to glory. But Prewitt stopped boxing after he accidentally blinded his friend and sparring partner and he won't play 'Dynamite's' game - no matter how hard the going gets...