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This series offers an unflinching look at the "tours of duty" of several members of a platoon during the Vietnam War. Death is inevitable in war, and major characters do die. The protagonists face the Viet Cong, social disapproval, and sometimes themselves over the course of the series.
DISC ONE
1.PILOT
Sgt. Anderson is sent to division HQ to report on a battle in which his Bravo Company suffered losses and to meet the platoon's new leader, Lt Goldman (Caffpey). He also uses the trip to recruit; some new "Gnuits" calling upon his own criteria to call the best from a group of green recruits. Goldman, just arrived from the States, immediately clashes with Anderson over military procedure. The others, equally inexperienced, Include CpL Percell (Becker), a patriotic combat volunteer from Iowa； Pvt. Lawrence (Amos)，a self-confident black from Detroit; Pvt. Ruiz (Franco), a Puerto Rican streetfighter from the Bronx; Pvt. Baker (Bruskotter)，a Southern California surfer, and Pvt. Horn (Maurer) an anti-war college dropout from Chicago. Back at the camp, they experience their first enemy fire and meet the platoon’s veterans. Among these are Pvt. Johnson (Poster), a black from Kansas City, who has become a skilled jungle fighter, Pvt. Taylor (Nunez), an embittered black who sees Vietnam as an extension of the tou^i neighbourhood where he grew up and "Doc" Randy Matsuda (Akahoshi), the unlfs medic, a soft-spoken Japanes어American from Santa Monica, California. Reluctantly, Capt. Wallace (Conroy) must send them Into battle the next day to meet the enemy force that recently attacked his camp. On the battlefield, a frightening land of sniper fire and concealed booby traps, the men of B Company will have to forget their differences and depend on one another for their very survival
2.NOTES FKOM TI1K UNDERGROUND
Taylor is captured and held in the secret underground tunnels of the North Vietnam Army. Anderson and Goldman, trying to earn the men’s respect, go into the tunnel after the NVA. In the end Anderson and Goldman escape the tunnel after a cave-in, as does Taylor when his Doctor is unable to follow orders and shoot him.
3. DISLOCATIONS
B Company is ordered to escort a group of villagers from their present village to a new location, which is to be an example of U.S. technology aiding the Vietnamese. Among the villagers is Lang, a beautiful woman to whom Goldman becomes very attached. They are attacked again on the trail and Goldman's life is saved and then spared by a VC who turns out to be Lang's husband.
4.WAR LOVEII
Anderson, Goldman, Percell, and Horn go on a special mission with combat veteran and "war lover" Earl Ray Michaels. Anderson’s past experience with Michaels as well as Michaels’ current, wild * behaviour lead to numerous conflicts. They complete their mission, but Michaels’ two men are killed and he feels responsible.
5.SITTING DUCKS
B Company is sent to relieve another group guarding a small village which is having an important new irrigation system installed. As they arrive, Goldman discovers that the commanding officer has just been killed out on patrol. After they take over, men get hit every time they patrol the surrounding jungle. It looks like someone from the village/fort is setting them up. Horn becomes fascinated with the local Buddhists and eventually discovers that it is the monks using the temple bell, who are tipping off the NVA.
DISC TWO
6.BURN, BABY, BURK
Racial tension leads to violence when a militant black soldier, Tucker, and a KKK member, Innis, both end up in B Company. Tucker’s friend is killed when Innis fails to provide cover. Later, Innis is murdered with Johnson’s weapon. While Goldman and Anderson don’t believe Johnson is guilty, they must follow procedure and place him under arrest. Meanwhile, Tucker has riled up "his" men. Armed, they approach the Camp Prison where Johnson is being held and demand his release. The white soldiers also approach, carrying their weapons. Only Zeke’s courage and authority prevents a shootout between the groups.
7.BROTHERS, FATHERS, AND SONS
Anderson, Baker and Johnson are shot down and must make their way back to base while being hunted by the Viet Cong, led by Trang, whose son was killed by the Americans. The trio come across a woman who dies giving birth. Anderson is adamant about leaving the baby behind, but the other two insist on taking it with them. However, it is Anderson who ends up taking care of the baby and forms the strongest bond with him, risking his life to save the baby. In the end, after many gunfights, Trang and Zeke are left to battle it out. Trang gets the upper hand when Zeke tries to save the baby, but he is unable to kill a man who twice risked his life for this child.
8. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DEAD
Anderson rescues his former commander, Decker, from his second court-martial and puts him in charge of the group as they head out to ambush an NVA radio post. At first popular, Decker quickly lets his drinking delude his judgement. His lax, drunken demeanour causes Horn to be seriously wounded by an NVA scout, who then warns his troops about the men. Having destroyed the mission and nearly gotten Horn killed, Decker is stripped of his command and his weapon. In the end, the men are the ones who are ambushed when the NVA surrounds them. Decker and Anderson save the day by creating a diversion so that the squad can escape. Decker dies in his efforts, and Anderson is left to wonder whether or not they all wouldn’t be better off dead.
9.BATTLING BAKEH BROTHERS
When Baker’s twin brother, Karl, comes to visit, it becomes clear that he is the wild one of the two. Karl’s antics finally get to Baker when he sleeps with Baker’s new-found love. Baker’s anger at his brother is replaced by concern when Karl’s helicopter crashes in enemy territory. Baker disobeys orders to find his brother. Eventually, they both become prisoners and are tortured by both the NVA and the VC. Anderson and Goldman go in to save the brothers and must attempt a daring rescue before American bombers fly in to blow up this enemy camp.
10.NOWHERE TO RUN
When B Company is assigned to secure a bridge right after losing many men in a surprise ambush, the men are weary, worried and wondering what it’s all about. Percell, who just received a "Dear John" letter, is on edge when the bridge gets blown with some of the men and trucks on it. In search of the enemy, Percell accidentally shoots and kills an 8-year old boy. His anguish over the incident is compounded by the fact the boy’s infant brother is dying of various causes and Doc Matsuda is unable to save him. Goldman arranges for he and Percell to escort the baby and his mother to the Evacuation Hospital. There, Goldman is reunited for a brief afternoon, with an old flame, LT. Nurse Nikki Raines.
DISC THREE
11.ROADRUNNER
Zeke’s confidence and inner strength are shaken when two things happen to him - he is almost killed by a barrage of mortar firing and he receives a letter from his wife, who asks him to write to his 3-year old daughter. To make matters worse, the men are ordered to retrieve and rescue downed pilots who fall in an occupied valley - it’s practically a suicide mission and Zeke knows it. As Zeke’s ability to lead wanes, Percell and Johnson both pick up the slack.
In the end, Zeke regains his confidence and the respect of the men when he risks his own life to save the downed pilot.
12.PUSH IN’ TOO HARD
B Company is sent on a reconnaissance mission to capture a prisoner. With them is a reporter, Vicky Adams, who’s intent on getting some good combat footage and who becomes an attraction to some of the men. Eventually, Wallace’s desire to show off in front off the reporter and to forget his unfaithful wife puts the men in great danger and costs Wallace his life.
13.USODOWN
On a reconnaissance mission, B Company runs into a USO band whose helicopter has been downed. As they try to get the civilians back to safety, the men must deal with their temporary fellow soldiers. Long John, the band’s leader is a war monger who has been unable to enlist due to his epilepsy but is eager to do some fighting. Collins is a frightened, neurotic sax player. Colby, one of the two women, is cold to the men, especially Percell, because she has already lost two soldier boyfriends in Nam. April is the calmest and the strongest of the group. In the end, Long John’s overzealous behaviour gets Collins killed. But, he then sacrifices his own life to save Zeke.
14.UNDER SIEGE
Captain Larry Heath joins the men as their new leader. His arrival is fortuitous because there is clear evidence that the NVA is planning a big push south—right over Pirebase Ladybird. Zeke, wary of the new Captain’s plans to hold fast and fight the approaching army, practically forces his men to help him fortify the base. The men begin to resent their overly cautious Platoon Sgt and take a strong liking to Heath who showers them with supplies and pep talks. In the end, however, Zeke’s warnings are right and the base is over run as they desperately await the help that Heath promised was on its way. Also, Matsuda is killed helping his fallen comrades.
15. SOLDIERS
When Danny Percell’s father is hospitalised after a near fatal heart attack, Danny is given emergency medical leave to be by his side in Honolulu. Upon arriving, he learns that his mother and father have separated. Danny, who had always felt that his father had neglected his mother and him, is even more distraught to meet his father’s new girlfriend, 26-year-old Jessie Garrett. When Jack Percell awakens he is a stubborn, harsh old cowboy who refuses to grow up. Danny initially leaves him with bad feelings. Meanwhile, Taylor and Ruiz, who have been scheduled for R&R in Bangkok with Danny, arrive in Honolulu to be by their friend’s side.
Together they are exposed to the real world in 1967 mini-skirts and negative attitudes about the war. In the end, Danny calms a crazed, bitter, paralysed Vet and makes peace with his father.
DISC FOUR
16. GRAY-BROWN ODYSSEY
Horn and Goldman are on their way back to the base when a booby trap blows up their jeep. Goldman is left blind. As they are trying to make their way back, Horn captures a VC - a woman. After Horn ties up the woman, he leaves Goldman and her to go off and get help. The woman, Li Kiem, signals a passing villager to get help. Goldman knows something’s up so he rigs his shotgun to her head and forces her to lead him to the U.S. forces. They run into a family starving to death and Goldman shares his food with them. Despite this act of kindness, Li Kiem tries to kill Goldman but fails. He, in turn, puts his jacket and helmet on her so she’s equally at danger should she lead them to the VC. Finally, they must cross a river but Li Kiem can’t swim. During the crossing Goldman regains much of his sight, and Li Kiem is shot.
17. BLOOD BROTHERS
Retired Major General Goldman, SR., (Goldman’s father) is on a fact finding mission for Washington brass. He and Goldman have not spoken in six years. Goldman, Sr, is dismayed by his son’s independent attitude in the field and by what he perceives to be a general slackness within the company. Meanwhile, a new recruit, Alvaro, is careless in the field one too many times and is killed.
Ruiz had already figured out that the young soldier was using heroin, but he decided to wait until they got back to the base to do anything about it. Later both Zeke and Goldman come to the same realisation and decide to quietly investigate drugs use on the base.
Ruiz, on temporary "mellow out" assignment in Supply, discovers the base connection is his boss, Sgt. Ray Exley. Being held hostage by Exley and the Vietnamese drug dealers, Ruiz is rescued by Zeke, the men from Bravo and the Goldman’s. Having witnessed all this, Goldman Sr. returns to Washington believing his son is right. This is not the same war he is used to fighting.
18. THE SHORT TIMER
As Taylor approaches the end of his tour, mixed emotions cause him to question his stated desire to return home. His fear and distaste for Vietnam is equalled only by the darkness of the life waiting for him at home. This is emphasised when he runs into a buddy from home who makes it clear that Taylor will have his choice of two careers, being a drug dealer or being a pimp. Meanwhile, the re-enlistment officer Sgt. Ralph Carlton, is attempting to add Taylor to his infamously long list of recruited "re-uppers". Taylor tries to save his pride by complaining that Carlton had gotten him drunk and tricked him into re-enlisting. The boys, infuriated by this, steal Taylor’s re-enlistment papers and shuffle him off on a Huey. When Carlton confronts Anderson with the theft, a verbal and physical battle erupts. In the end, Taylor returns just in time to stop Zeke from pounding Carlton’s face in.
19. PARADISE LOST
B Company is saved from a VC ambush by a native Montagnard tribe. These natives hate everyone except Americans and they take the men in as their guests. This is against the better judgement of a mysterious American, Kithem, who seems to have deserted the Army and Joined the tribe. The men get orders to help fortify the native "compound" against the VC. They also help build shelters, inoculate the children, and teach the women modern agricultural techniques. Kithem warns Anderson that all this will only help make the tribe a target for the Drug Barons. B Company and the tribesmen intercept a major drug run during a routine patrol. Whilst the men of B Company and the villagers entertain each other with singing and dancing, the village is attacked. The platoon are then ordered out. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam troops come in and take over. The men return to the tribe when they hear gunfire and help them annihilate Tung’s troops.
20.ANGEL OF MERCY
As the NVA and VC prepare for the infamous "Tet Offensive", the men run into a gang of the enemy in the bush. They are able to catch an NVA Colonel, Trang. But Goldman also catches a bullet in his helmet and in his Jacket. Though saved by his clothing, he still does need to go the hospital along with Anderson, who has a sprained ankle. Nikki is shocked to see Goldman, but is relieved that he’s ok. He is concerned about her distant attitude and she eventually tells him that she has had an abortion. He, in turn asks her to marry him, but she doesn’t want to chance becoming a widow. Meanwhile, intelligence officers from the army and from ARVN have arrived to interrogate Trang, who is almost killed mysteriously. But the ARVN intelligence officer, Ba Tho, is actually an NVA operative and tries to shoot out his way through the halls of the hospital.
DISC FIVE
21.THE HILL
When Goldman returns to B Company after his brief R Se R, they are assigned to help take Hill 1000, which they had to capture once before only to give it back. And again they are able to chase off the elusive enemy only to be ordered off the hill so that it can be defoliated. Meanwhile, the men receive medals for bravery. But, the NVA shoot down the defoliant chopper and the men are asked once again to risk life and limb to take the hill once again. But Horn just can’t stand to see any more of his buddies killed by the unseen enemy. But when Horn sees that Taylor has been wounded, he realises that the reason to go back and fight is to help his friends. With this rationalisation in mind, Horn risks his own life and is seriously wounded as he single-handedly destroys the NVA bunker and saves his friend’s lives.
