Days before a planned U.S. attack on the Philippines, three American soldiers -- Craig (Jimmie Rodgers), an officer with conflicted feelings about war, Burnett (Jack Nicholson), the radio operator, and Jersey (John Hackett), the capable fellow-in-arms, go ashore to do reconnaissance on the Japanese forces. But not only does the enemy learn of their presence, their radio is also destroyed, putting all U.S. troops gathered in the Philippines in danger. Depending on each other as well as a group of Filipino resistance fighters, the three struggle against formidable odds to complete their mission.