Platoon Leader

Lieutenant Jeffrey Knight is airlifted into a Vietnam outpost and meets his platoon of hardened veterans. Platoon Sergeant McNamara warns him that the unit does not follow conventional rules, setting the tone for his leadership test. Knight must prove he can earn the respect of men who doubt him.

On one of his first patrols Knight trips a landmine and is nearly killed. Parker radios for an evac, and McNamara orders the unit to move toward a landing zone for extraction. The scare forces Knight to confront his role and the dangers of the mission.

While recovering in an Army hospital, Major Flynn asks if Knight can take command again. Knight agrees, signaling his willingness to rebuild trust and lead once more. This sets his renewed resolve to change his approach with the platoon.

Knight is airlifted back to his platoon's outpost but finds his gear missing and a chill reception from the men who did not expect him back. They scramble to return his property before he emerges, highlighting the fragile trust between Knight and his unit. He resolves to adopt a different leadership style.

The platoon is attacked by heavy Vietcong forces and Parker is mortally wounded by mortar fire. Knight urgently calls for medical aid, but Parker dies in his arms. McNamara arrives with his squad to help repel the attackers, and Roach’s squad drives the enemy back.

A week later Major Flynn delivers three new replacements, including a rebellious Private Don Pike. Knight perceives Pike’s demeanor as disruptive and assigns him to Sergeant Roach's mine sweeping detail to keep him under control. The dynamic between Knight and the newcomers begins to shape the platoon.

Knight discovers Private Bacera using drugs and confiscates the evidence, then leads the patrol the next day under tighter supervision. Bacera still sneaks a hit and overdoses, with the needle still in his arm when Knight finds him, leaving him furious at himself for not preventing it. The tragedy forces Knight to confront his responsibilities as a leader.

Late at night the camp is awakened by an intruder and the outpost comes under enemy attack. The platoon shoots flares to illuminate the battlefield as a massive Viet Cong force closes in. They fend off the assault with mortars, airstrikes, and sheer grit, suffering heavy casualties.

The following morning Knight confesses he feels incapable of leading, but McNamara reminds him that he’s brought them this far. Captain Killinski, Lieutenant Riley, and another officer outline a plan to counter the Viet Cong threat, and Knight proposes a different approach. After consulting the others, Killinski agrees to Knight’s plan, signaling renewed trust.

Knight orders McNamara to scout ahead and bring in another platoon, but McNamara is ambushed before reaching them. Knight and his squad fight to reach him and evacuate him to a landing zone for helicopter extraction. The unit then moves toward a nearby village to strike at the enemy.

Knight's platoon reaches the village and kills off a Viet Cong company, driving them back. The village is then hit by mortar fire, and Knight is wounded by shrapnel in the eye while Pike administers first aid. The battle continues as the platoon fights to hold the village.

Roach discovers a baby in a destroyed hut and realizes the Viet Cong were targeting villagers, not just soldiers. This moment underscores the war’s civilian cost and deepens Knight's understanding of the mission’s moral complexity.

In the aftermath, Knight visits McNamara and reflects on the village’s loss and their hard-fought defense. A couple of months later, McNamara returns to the base and Knight greets him with 'welcome back to the country club' as they embrace, signaling reconciliation and growth.