Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling was the commander of a unit during Operation Desert Storm who mistakenly ordered the destruction of what he believed to be an enemy tank, only to discover that it actually held U.S. soldiers, including a close friend. Since then, Serling has been an emotional wreck, drinking heavily and allowing his marriage to teeter on the brink of collapse. As a means of redeeming himself, Serling is given a new assignment by his superior, Gen. Hershberg. Capt.
Karen Walden was a helicopter pilot who died in battle during the Iraqi conflict, and the White House has proposed that Walden be posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Serling is asked to investigate Walden's actions on the field of battle, but he quickly discovers that no two stories about her are quite the same; Ilario says Walden acted heroically and sacrificed herself to save the others in her company, while Monfriez claims she was a coward who was attempting to surrender to enemy troops.
Meanwhile, reporter Tony Gartner is hounding Serling, trying to get the inside story on Walden and on Serling's own difficulties.