In the midst of the Vietnam War, a young and principled soldier named Eriksson is deployed along with his squad in an area rife with danger and moral ambiguity. The squad, led by the hardened and volatile Sergeant Meserve, is torn between their humanity and the dehumanizing effects of prolonged warfare. During a routine patrol, the squad captures a young Vietnamese woman, and Meserve decides to kidnap her for personal gratification under the guise of military necessity. Eriksson strongly objects, sensing the profound violation of ethics, but his protests are ignored by Meserve and the other soldiers.

As tensions escalate, Eriksson finds himself increasingly isolated due to his refusal to conform to the immoral actions of his squadmates. Struggling with his conscience, he faces fierce opposition and hostile threats from his fellow soldiers who feel betrayed by his stance. The brutality of war continues to erode the moral boundaries of the platoon, pushing Eriksson into a harrowing dilemma between duty to both his country and his own moral integrity. His determination to seek justice for the atrocities he witnesses places him on a perilous path, challenging the very fabric of military brotherhood and command structures that demand obedience above all else.