West Point graduate lieutenant Jeff Knight matches cynicism when taking command of sergeant Michael McNamara's tour pros platoon at a trench camp that is Vietnamese. Unlike his predecessor, who dared until the conclusion of the tour, Jeff experiences the manual doesn't allow coping-with realities takes control and gets wounded. He yields, now esteem by men and women superiors. Besides the Viet Cong, the platoon wrestles with the inscrutable villagers, which the G.I.'s officially protect, but also fear as some interact with themcovertly with the Cong, either way subject to bloody reprisals.