: Captain Morton’s prized possession is a palm tree he keeps on deck, which serves as a symbol of his authority. In a fit of frustration with the Captain’s tyranny, Roberts eventually throws the tree overboard.
Roberts is eventually transferred to a destroyer, realizing his dream of seeing combat. However, the film ends on a poignant note when the crew receives word that Roberts was killed during a kamikaze attack. Spurred by Roberts’ legacy of courage, the previously timid Ensign Pulver finally confronts Captain Morton, throwing the replacement palm tree overboard and taking up Roberts' mantle as the defender of the crew. Mister Roberts (1955) - TCM Mister Roberts(1955)
: After the crew learns of Roberts' deal, they forge his signature on a new transfer request, which is finally granted just as the war in Europe ends. The Bittersweet Ending : Captain Morton’s prized possession is a palm