Hastings is a young American with a small family and a loving girlfriend. His battalion moves to Iraq and he finds himself surrounded by violence and death from all sides. Right after his first armed encounter which results in the death of a few innocent women and children, he realizes that he doesn't belong here. He and his trusted friend, Harbash both feel terribly guilty and want to go back.

Both friends go through an emotional roller coaster ride filled with fear, disgust, pain, and helplessness. Life means nothing but kill or be killed. Every day, they survive an ever-increasing number of suicide attacks and ambushes on US troops amidst mounting anxiety and tension.

On the last day of their stay in Iraq, while traveling to the airport for their onward journey to the US, Harbash gets killed leaving behind a letter for his parents which is an eye-opener and makes everybody cry.