Ron Kovic, a patriotic young man from Massapequa, New York, grows up idolizing the military and feels an unshakeable sense of duty to serve his country. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's speeches and his own family's tradition of service, Ron enlists in the Marine Corps immediately after high school, eager to fight in the Vietnam War. During his second tour of duty, Ron experiences the brutal realities of war firsthand. A tragic firefight leaves him critically injured and permanently paralyzed from the chest down. The heart-wrenching consequences of this injury mark the beginning of a turbulent journey that shatters his once-idealistic views.

Upon returning home, Ron faces the devastating challenges of reintegration into civilian life as a disabled veteran. Struggling with his physical limitations and increasingly disillusioned by the neglect he perceives from the government and society, he finds himself at odds with the beliefs he held so dear before the war. As tensions rise during the 1960s and 1970s, marked by widespread protests and societal shifts, Ron embarks on a personal transformation. Once a fervent supporter of American values and policies, his evolving beliefs lead him to become an outspoken advocate for peace and veterans' rights. Amidst this internal and external turmoil, Ron embarks on a courageous quest for meaning and redemption, determined to find his voice in a country he no longer recognizes.