US Army captain Keene, a rugged veteran, struggles to do the right thing by his platoon in the throes of senseless jungle combat, only to be thwarted at every turn.
Warfare brings out the worst in certain of his comrades, especially when it comes to the treatment of prisoners, many of whom are summarily annihilated. During a fierce firefight, Keene is captured by a 17-year-old Viet Cong soldier, Ho, who wrestles with his conscience over the goals of the communists. Moreover, the wanton brutality of his compatriots, especially Khoi, causes him to withdraw even further into himself. In time, he comes to take a proprietary view of his prisoner, and, to insure justice for Keene, breaks away from his troop.