Seeking a grand adventure, Ernie runs away from home, forges papers, and joins the Marines at age fifteen. His ruse is discovered after finishing boot camp training. The Marines kick him out. Two years later, with his parentsa consent, he joins the Army. While stationed on Guam, he fathers twins with a local beauty. He is transferred to the Calvary and fights in the Korean War. His heroic performance earns him a field promotion. While fighting, he is wounded, captured, and sent to a North Korean prison hospital. Doctors ignore his wounded leg. For 30 months, crippled in one leg, Ernie tries to escape and is caught and punished each time. The punishment almost kills him. He is put in the camp hospital where he is gradually recovering when the United Nations negotiates a cease-fire. Will Ernie finally make it home to a heroas welcome?