Hamburger Hill

As the 3rd Battalion of the 101st Airborne prepares for another deployment in Vietnam's treacherous terrain, a quintet of fresh-faced recruits arrives to bolster their ranks. Beletsky, a worrier by nature, frets about committing everything to memory; Languilli, ever sensitive to mispronunciations, grows irked at the slightest deviation from his name; Washburn, Beinstock, and Galvan join the platoon, with Galvan, the quietest of the bunch, proving to be an astute and promising new addition. Under the watchful eye of their battle-hardened squad leader, Sgt. Frantz, these greenhorns are hastily schooled in the essentials of combat, from the intricacies of oral hygiene to a gruesome demonstration by a captured NVA soldier on the art of breaching perimeter defenses.

Meanwhile, the platoon welcomes a new commander, Lieutenant Eden, who relies heavily on the battle-tested wisdom of both Frantz and Platoon-Sgt. Worcester. The MG-team, comprising burly Pvt. Duffy and his bespectacled sidekick Pvt. Gaigan, proves to be an invaluable asset in the heat of battle. Among the platoon's African-American veterans are Motown, Doc Johnson, and Sgt. McDaniel, each with a deep understanding of the racial disparities that still plague the army.

The FNGs' introduction to the harsh realities of war comes when a peaceful riverside respite is suddenly disrupted by an enemy artillery barrage, claiming Galvan's life in its wake. The platoon then ventures into the treacherous A Shau Valley, only to find themselves embroiled in a firefight that claims Sgt. McDaniel's life. This loss sparks a palpable bitterness and tension within the ranks, as McDaniel was nearing the end of his tour and, being black, had been denied the opportunity to secure rear-line duties at headquarters.

As the Battalion launches an assault on enemy-held Hill 937, the battle quickly escalates into a major conflagration when unexpectedly heavy resistance is met. The NVA, rather than employing hit-and-run tactics, instead defends well-entrenched positions. The platoon is forced to launch repeated assaults against the hill, only to be met with stubborn opposition and US air-strikes that gradually strip away all vegetation, leaving the once-green hill a barren, scorched wasteland.

In one fateful assault, battle-crazed Duffy, wielding an M-60 machine gun, seems on the cusp of victory as enemy lines begin to waver. However, a misdirected fire support from helicopter gunships inflicts heavy friendly-fire casualties, ultimately dooming the assault and claiming Duffy's life among those lost. The platoon is left reeling from this devastating blow, their resolve tested by the unforgiving realities of war.

As the relentless battle rages on, the dwindling platoon's fleeting moments of respite are filled with poignant discussions about the tumultuous state of affairs back in their homeland. Beinstock's world is shattered by a heart-wrenching letter from his girlfriend, whose college friends have persuaded her that it's morally reprehensible to remain committed to someone fighting on foreign soil. Meanwhile, Beletsky receives a taped message from his loved one at home, and Frantz is taken aback yet deeply moved when she mentions him specifically. However, his emotional vulnerability is short-lived, as he launches a scathing rebuke against draft-dodgers back home, insisting that they should at the very least show up to the fight, even if they choose not to engage their weapons. This outburst of frustration culminates in a heated confrontation with a television reporter, who Frantz dismissively tells has more respect for the enemy forces on the hill because "at least they take a stand."

As the exhausted and increasingly decimated platoon continues its futile attempts to capture the hill, the tenth assault unfolds amidst torrential rains that transform the landscape into a treacherous sea of mud. The loss is staggering: Gaigan falls, and Doc Johnson is severely wounded before being evacuated. Just before departing, he imparts a solemn charge to Frantz and Worcester: "Take this hill, no matter what, so we can at least find something to be proud of." Undeterred by their crippling fatigue and bitter disappointment, the surviving remnants of the platoon launch an eleventh and final assault, driven by a potent cocktail of anger, unit pride, and desperation. The enemy positions are eventually overrun, but the cost is devastating: Lieutenant Eden suffers a grievous injury, losing his arm in the process. Worcester, Motown, Beinstock, and Languilli ultimately succumb to their wounds before the few remaining survivors stumble onto the summit. As Frantz, wounded by an enemy bayonet, lies exhausted alongside Beletsky and Washburn, the battlefield finally falls silent, leaving only the haunting echoes of war's devastating toll.