After losing his wife and young daughter in a plane crash, US journalist Fletcher Carson joins the flagging war effort in Vietnam, where he plans to die. But when he rescues a critically wounded Labrador, whom he names Jack, and helps nurse him back to life, Fletcher slowly reigns the will to live. But the ceasefire brings with it news that no dogs serving with the US will be transported home. But Fletcher knows that if he abandons Jack, he will be lost too.