Portrays the camaraderie, courage, and sacrifice of war among the soldiers as second lieutenant Mellas lands in the jungle between Laos and the DMZ with a chip on his shoulder and a group of teenagers as his Marines rifle platoon. As they move forward on their mission to cut off a major enemy supply line, they endure a series of tests such as firefights, mortar attacks, and snipers before they encounter the massive enemy in all-out combat and Mellas is faced with the realities of war and his commitment which will change him forever.