Fact1: hardened Korean and Vietnam War veteran be instructor to train soldiers for Vietnam, Fact2: Jackie Willow is assigned to platoon, Fact3: good soldiers killed in wrong war, Fact4: Samantha Davis Among others in are longtime friend and Nelson and girlfriend Hazard 's life, Fact5: writer for Washington Post is against Vietnam War for different reasons
Output: A hardened Korean and Vietnam War veteran, Sergeant First Class Clell Hazard James Caan would rather be an instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, to train soldiers for Vietnam but instead he is assigned by the Army to the 1st battalion 3d Infantry Regiment The Old Guard at Fort Myer, Virginia. The Old Guard is U.S. Armys Honor Guard. It provides the ceremonial honor guard for the funerals of fallen soldiers and guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Hazard calls them the toy soldiers and hates his job until Jackie Willow D. B. Sweeney, the son of an old friend and fellow veteran, is assigned to his platoon and he sees an opportunity to make sure at least one man comes home alive. Hazard tries to warn Willow about Vietnam but the young man sees it as his duty as a soldier to fight for his country, no matter what kind of war. Hazard hates how the war in Vietnam is being fought and feels that good soldiers are being wounded and killed in the wrong war in which the U.S. is not fighting to win. Among the others in Hazards life are his longtime friend and superior, Sergeant Major Goody Nelson James Earl Jones, and his girlfriend Samantha Davis Anjelica Huston, a writer for The Washington Post who is against the Vietnam War for different reasons. Willow marries a colonels daughter named Rachel Feld Mary Stuart Masterson, who at first refuses to marry Jackie as long as he is a soldier. Rachel also hates the war in Vietnam and is afraid for her husband. Hazard is divorced and hasnt seen his son in years due to the bitter divorce. After Willows father, who is a retired U.S. Army master sergeant and a former Korean War comrade in arms of Hazards and Nelsons, dies of a heart attack, Hazard comes to look upon Willow as a son. He tries to teach Willow all he can about soldiering and surviving in combat. Willow in turn tries to teach his platoonmate Private Albert Wildman, a chronic screwup, how to be a soldier. Wildman is later ordered to Vietnam, where he distinguishes himself as a heroic soldier and effective combat infantryman. He returns from Vietnam promoted to the rank of sergeant and is a recipient of the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat. Sergeant Flanagan Larry Fishburne, a fellow member of Hazards platoon, receives his orders for Vietnam at the same time. Willow excels, is promoted to the rank of sergeant and then is recommended to attend Officers Candidate School, which he completes and is commissioned as a second lieutenant. He is ordered to serve in a combat unit in Vietnam. Willow writes Hazard from Vietnam about all the good men in his platoon that he is losing in combat. Hazard then finds out that Willow has been killed in action when he sees the burial orders for Willows remains. Hazard requests to be sent to Vietnam for his third tour of duty as a platoon sergeant in a combat infantry unit. He places his Combat Infantryman Badge on Willows flagdraped coffin at the chapel at Arlington National Cemetery. Wildman and Flanagan, at that time both sergeants and just recently returned from Vietnam, are also present at Willows funeral. The film ends with military honors being rendered at Willows graveside at Arlington and Hazard speaking to the mourners prior to the firing of the rifle salute and the playing of Taps.