Once called the "perfect example of a homeless waif" by director Cecil B. DeMille, Junior Coghlan acted in movies for over 70 years. Perhaps best remembered for his role as Billy Batson in the Republic serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel, he has worked with many of the legends of Hollywood, such as Charlie Chaplin, Mickey Rooney, Jackie Cooper, and Shirley Temple.

Included here are the stories of Coghlan's 23-year naval service (he enlisted as an aviator during World War II and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander) and his eight years as the naval liaison and technical advisor on such films as The Caine Mutiny and Mr. Roberts. A filmography traces his career.