本片改编自真实事件，尼古拉斯·凯奇将饰演查尔斯·巴特勒·麦克沃伊上校，该舰于1945年7月在南太平洋被日本潜艇鱼雷击沉，舰上载有两枚原子弹aaa
　　全舰1196名官兵有大约300名随舰沉没，其余的在等待救援的时候面临着日晒、脱水、盐水浸蚀和鲨鱼攻击。只有317名被救，麦克沃伊被送上军事法庭，半个世纪后才被平反。

AstheseasonedinfantryandtankunitsoftheGerman11thPanzer"Ghost"divisionmovesilentlyintopositiononthesnowcoveredhillsaroundNennigGermany,abattlewearyGIandhisunitstandreadytodefendthesmalltown,akeypositionintheAlliedadvancetowinthewar.Outgunnedandoutnumbered,S/SgtDonSmithstrugglestofindhopeandcourageagainstoverwhelmingoddsinoneofthedecisiveconfrontationsinthe"BattleoftheBulge"duringWWII.HissquadofGI’softhe94thInfantryDivisionlayduginontheridge-lineoutsideoftown.NooneinhighcommandbelievedthatGermanforceswouldattackinthesubzerotemperaturesandnearblizzardconditions.Asthepre-dawnattackcomes,withcommunicationsdownSgt.Smithisleftwithnochoicebuttomakehiswaythroughenemyfire,unarmedandwounded,intotownandwarnofthecomingattack.Basedonactualaccounts"Everyman’sWar"explorestheheroiceventsofthisdecoratedveteranscourageandthestrugglebetweendutyanddesire.Betweentheprospectofthelifeandlove,Dorinethatwaitsathomeandtheharshrealitiesofwarwhichmarksthepivotalepochinhislifeashediscoversthatthelossofhopecanbeworsethanthelossoflife.Oneman’scourage...Oneman’shope...Everyman’sWarddd

朗（汤姆•克鲁斯 Tom 饰）自幼就是一个争强好胜的男孩，向往男子汉的生活。年轻的朗被总统那潘那番充满煽动性的越战演说彻底征服，一种挑战和为国牺牲的冲动在朗的内心渐渐滋长。一次摔跤比赛的失利，令一向要强的他毅然告别了恋人唐娜和大学生活，踏上了从军参战之路。