18-year old Daniel Murphy and 21- year old Brandon Bartle become close friends while going through basic training in the U.S. Army. At a last party before their deployment to the gulf war, Brandon promises Daniel's mother Maureen that he is going to make sure that her son will return unharmed. The movie follows both soldiers into deployment in Iraq, where, under the command of the experienced Sergeant Sterling, they join the battle for Al Tafar. In the course of the invasion, Daniel gets killed. Back home, a severely traumatized Brandon tries his best to avoid Maureen's inquiry into the circumstances of Daniels death, while numbing his guilt with alcohol. Thus, the movie shifts its focus to Maureens search for answers detailing the death of her son. Over the course of several flashbacks, an ever clearer picture of Daniel's untimely demise gets painted.