Second Lieutenant Michael Galway is the commanding officer of 2nd Platoon, Echo Company. He has inherited a misfit outfit, but he manages to turn his rejects around, restore their pride, and make them believe that they truly are Marines. On September 11, 2001, in the middle of field exercises, the platoon receives news of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A few weeks later, they receive orders that their battalion will deploy overseas. Intelligence has learned that ten of the top Al-Qaeda leaders are in a Yemen village, and there is an opportunity to strike a surprise blow against them. Echo Company has to strike immediately. The mission is dangerous, with a helicopter flight deep into enemy territory and a nighttime drop into the middle of a hostile village to capture or kill the Al-Qaeda leaders, gather as much intelligence as possible, then fly out before a counterattack can occur. In the ensuing combat, Galway's marines stay in control and accomplish their mission. They mount their helicopters and it is only after they have landed that they discover one of the helicopters has not made it out. It is then that Echo Company's real battle begins.