Idealistic Marine Charlie McDowell represents the third generation of his family to serve his country in time of war. But after two years in combat, Charlie has a battlefield commission and wound so serious it threatens to waylay his military career. He's forced to return home to conquer the rehabilitation that stands in the way of his return to active duty. While there, he also plans to finish his education and reconcile with the girl he loves. Before any of that can happen, though, Charlie is rocked by trauma-related depression, nightmares, and hallucinations that threaten to turn him into an emotional as well as physical cripple. He realizes he must learn to deal with the horror of what he has seen and done overseas. Charlie's fight to recover also demands he survive his new commanding officer--a bitter man with an old score to settle who seems determined to drive Charlie from the service. From the battlefield, to the bedroom, to the halls of academia, Charlie McDowell is a man of his time and so much more, but can he conquer his own demons to become the hero of his aspirations?