An irresponsible student enlists in the Coast Guard expecting to sit out World War II.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Andy GriffithAlvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead | Alvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead |
 Felicia FarrStella Papparonis | Stella Papparonis |
 Walter Matthau'Red' Wildoe | 'Red' Wildoe |
| EErin O'BrienJosephine 'Jo' Hill | Josephine 'Jo' Hill |
 Joe MantellHarry 'Doc' O'Neal | Harry 'Doc' O'Neal |
 Ray DantonEnsign Dennis Higgins | Ensign Dennis Higgins |
 James GregoryLt. Cmdr. Fox aka The Skipper | Lt. Cmdr. Fox aka The Skipper |
 Joey BishopSidney Gutsell | Sidney Gutsell |
 Roscoe Karns'Windy' Woods | 'Windy' Woods |
 Claude AkinsPoznicki | Poznicki |
 Ainslie PryorChief Miller | Chief Miller |
 Karl LukasAgnelli | Agnelli |
 Sean GarrisonYeoman Kaffhamp | Yeoman Kaffhamp |
 Dan BartonEns. Fineberg | Ens. Fineberg |
 Mark RobertsLt. J.G. Bennett | Lt. J.G. Bennett |
 Peter BrownClark (scenes deleted) | Clark (scenes deleted) |
 Tige AndrewsCharlie Berger | Charlie Berger |
| MMorris D. ErbyDave Hubert | Dave Hubert |