Men in War

On 6 September 1950, a small US infantry platoon becomes isolated behind enemy lines, exhausted and without radio contact. They are harassed by unseen North Korean infiltrators who silently kill patrols and slip in silence. Their only instruction is to reach a hill where they can link up with American forces.

A patrol encounters a jeep driven by Staff Sergeant Montana and a silent, bound Colonel from the First Cavalry Division. The Colonel is unable to speak and is tied to his seat, and Lieutenant Benson uses the jeep to ferry his platoon’s equipment and the battered Corporal Zwickley. The jeep becomes a temporary transfer of leadership and supplies.

After the Battle of the Nakdong River, Montana, a hardened veteran, decides he and the Colonel have had enough of the war. He reveals his weariness and contempt for endless fighting, signaling a turning point for his character. The pair contemplate withdrawing from further combat.

Benson, taking command of the platoon, commandeers the jeep for his unit’s equipment and the battle-fatigued Zwickley. The move consolidates their gear and asserts leadership in a desperate situation. This act also reshapes the dynamics with Montana and the others.

Montana disobeys Benson by instinctively shooting a surrendering North Korean sniper. The man collapses, and a concealed weapon inside his hat reveals that danger can come from within even when enemies seem defeated. The action sets a hard-edged tone for Montana’s leadership.

Sergeant Killian is killed while covering the rear, and Montana takes his place, feigning fatigue to lure infiltrators into the open, where he eliminates them. The squad’s cohesion hinges on Montana’s improvisation and brutality when needed. The platoon’s morale begins to hinge on his aggressive resolve.

Montana reshapes the platoon into a disciplined formation and even helps Corporal Zwickley overcome his neurosis with a hard, corrective approach. His rough methods prove effective in keeping the men focused under pressure. The platoon functions with renewed ferocity.

The platoon endures sniper fire, artillery bombardment, and land mines as they push toward the hill. Platoon Sergeant Lewis panics under pressure and is killed, illustrating the intense strain on leadership under fire. The unit presses forward despite mounting casualties.

When they reach the hill, they discover it is held by North Korean defenders. Montana shoots three enemy soldiers disguised as Americans after a North Korean prisoner is killed by his own side. The line between ally and enemy blurs on this battlefield.

Benson and his men launch an assault, but Montana and the colonel initially stay out. The colonel regains his bearings, joins the assault, and is killed in the fighting. His death underlines the high cost paid by leadership.

Shamed by the Colonel’s death, Montana joins Benson to continue the assault on the hill. He commits to the fight even as his personal weariness remains, underscoring a complex moral turn for his character. The decision marks a shift back toward teamwork.

They use grenades and a flamethrower to destroy a pillbox and a machine-gun nest, clearing the way for their final push. The offensive momentum swings in favor of Benson’s unit as they reduce the hill’s defenses. The assault tightens as fires rage around the battlefield.

Only Benson, Montana, and Riordan survive the attack while American reinforcements arrive to secure the hill. The unit’s sacrifice is tempered by the arrival of fresh troops who can help hold the position. The closing hours reveal the true cost of the engagement.

Montana produces a container of medals that the colonel had intended to award. Benson calls the roll of the platoon in alphabetic order, including those killed, as Montana tosses medals to the dead on the slope of the hill. The moment commemorates both victory and loss.