Inspired by Kipling's 'IF' - two men born in the late 19th century fight in the Great War, and are called by their nation to serve again in World War Two. One American, a career military man, tries to climb the ladder of success within the military, but is sidetracked by his love of flying. The other, an English engineering student, has a flash of insight which propels his career, and he rides that success into high rank, despite being appalled at the callousness of military leadership. Subdivided into three sections - 'The Unforgiving Minute' - 'Yours is the Earth' - and, 'A Walk With Kings' each outlines the march of time through the two wars and the between wars period, as the two main characters find out what it means to be a man in the early part of the 20th century.