In a small industrial town in Pennsylvania, three Russian-American steelworkers, Michael, Steven, and Nick, lead a life of labor and camaraderie. Michael, particularly, is a man of principle and a skilled hunter, deeply passionate about the ethics of deer hunting. The trio spend their days working in the steel mill and their free time at the local bar, immersed in their tight-knit community. As the Vietnam War rages overseas, the three friends, along with a few other acquaintances, are drafted into the military. Amidst the chaos of war, they all face the harrowing realities of combat in the jungles of Vietnam.

Before their deployment, Steven marries his pregnant girlfriend in a grand Russian Orthodox wedding, which also serves as a farewell party. The community celebrates with a mixture of joy and trepidation, fully aware of the dangers the men will soon encounter. During the festivities, the bonds between the friends are reinforced, promises are made, and Michael's unspoken feelings for Nick's girlfriend, Linda, begin to surface. As they are thrust into the war, they encounter extreme perils that challenge their endurance and shake their beliefs, fundamentally altering their lives and affecting their relationships with each other and the people back home.