Tom Pike had orders to return to the States at the end of his second tour in Viet Nam. He was already at the airfield waiting to get on the plane, when VC rockets started bombing the airstrip. Within minutes he was given new orders - round up a convoy of people, weapons and ammunition and save Charlie Troop that was under heavy fire and taking heavy casualties. After a horrific battle that accomplished the mission, Tom was loaded on a helicopter along with prisoners and flown back to the airfield. Still in full battle gear, covered in the blood and filth of battle, he was immediately put on the plane headed back to the U.S.