Tunnel Rats

A group of US Army soldiers arrive at base camp in the jungle of South Vietnam. They spend the first day and night getting to know each other and forming a rough camaraderie before the mission. Tension and curiosity mix with routine drills.

The next morning, Hollowborn leads the platoon into the Viet Cong tunnel network at Cu Chi. They rely on bayonets, pistols, grenades, and flashlights as their only weapons. The goal is search-and-destroy, pressing deeper into enemy tunnels.

Inside the tunnels, the soldiers encounter primitive but deadly booby traps such as punji sticks and tripwire grenades. They come under fire from roving Viet Cong troops, testing their nerve and teamwork. The claustrophobic maze begins to take a toll.

Garraty and Johnson are killed early in the tunnel ordeal, shocking the remaining soldiers. Their deaths set a grim tone for the mission as panic and adrenaline mix with duty. The group is forced to press on with dwindling numbers.

Sergeant Heaney and Privates Verano are both killed while Corporal Dan Green manages to escape the tight confines of the tunnels. The loss of two leaders creates confusion but also resolve among the survivors. The tunnel maze becomes a deadly chessboard.

Harris and Lidford manage to reach a deeper section of the tunnel, escaping some dangers. Later, Lidford is killed, leaving Harris to continue under pressure. The squad's morale fractures as the tunnel threat intensifies.

Porterson fights his way through the labyrinthine passages, successfully escaping into the relative safety of the tunnel system. His escape adds another thread to the evolving survival story. Others struggle with traps and dwindling air.

As combat rages below, the Viet Cong launch an assault on the surface, pressuring the base camp. The defenders scramble to respond while trapped soldiers below confront their attackers above. The war collapses into chaos across multiple fronts.

Miller and Graybridge make a desperate bid to flee; Graybridge is killed in the process while Miller narrowly survives. The escape attempt underscores the brutal, unpredictable nature of the battle. The survivors face dwindling options as the wall between tunnel and surface collapses.

Wounded commander Hollowborn orders an airstrike to prevent further catastrophe as the situation spirals out of control. The blast destroys sections of the tunnel and kills several soldiers, including Green who dies in the tunnels. The mission's human cost becomes heartbreakingly explicit.

Harris speaks with Vo Mai, convincing her that he is not a threat to her family. This encounter offers a brief human connection amid the brutality and a glimmer of hope in the dark tunnels. The moment underscores the complexity of loyalty and survival.

Porterson retreats to the surface and later encounters Miller at the ruined camp where many soldiers have been slaughtered by the North Vietnamese Army. They witness the bombings, and their ultimate fate remains ambiguous. The scene emphasizes the collapse of the mission and the randomness of survival.

Harris and Vo Mai realize they cannot escape and start digging their way out, only to realize they are trapped with no viable exit. They remain together in the tunnel until the end of their days. The closing note highlights the personal costs and enduring endurance.