Charlie is a soldier of the "Awkward Squad" and in the early stages of his basic training. Due to his large shoes out-turned feet he has problems with making a proper about-face and with marching, constantly annoying his drill sergeant. Exhausted after a hard drill, he collapses on his cot. "Over there," in France, the troops are engaged in trench warfare. Charlie shares his quarters with a sergeant. When the sergeant receives a letter from home Charlie, who never gets any mail, reads over his shoulder. Eventaully he himself receives a package containing a limburger cheese which requires a gas mask. He throws the cheese over into the German trench, goes "over the top" and captures thirteen Germans ("I surrounded them"), then volunteers to wander through the German lines disguised as a tree trunk. Soon German soldier searching for fire-wood start chopping on his camouflage. He is discovered but manages to escape to a bombed-out house where a French girl lives. She finds him in her bed and tends to his wounds. Soon they're beset by the enemy squad, searching for Charlie. In the chase, they collapse the rickety house and Charlie escapes, but Edna is arrested for aiding the enemy. Meanwhile Charlie's sergeant buddy is captured while attempting to telegraph information on the enemy to the allied camp. Edna and Sydney are both brought to the enemy headquarters and Edna is threatened by the evil commandant. Charlie, sneaking down the chimney of the commandant's house, rescues Edna from his advances and locks him in a closet. At that moment the Kaiser, Crown Prince and their General arrive at the camp. Charlie, rushing to the closet, takes the commandant's uniform and impersonates him. Taking charge of Edna and escorting her outside, he is recognized by his captive buddy, and the three of them overcome and restrain the Kaiser's driver and guards and replace them. When the Kaiser and the others enter the limousine, the allies drive them off to the American camp, where Charlie is hailed as a hero and is hoisted on the shoulders of his comrades.
But the entire story was just a dream and Charlie is shaken awake by his drill sergeant — still in boot camp!