Caputo begins the novel by explaining the origin of this story: It is his true experience, told in a way that captures his point of view; he explicitly states that it is not intended as a historical document.
Part One
Lieutenant Caputo reflects on his decision to join the Marine Corp. This resulted in his experience of the Vietnam War. He recalls his deployment to Da Nang. His intel suggested that it was a mission to defend an airstrip, but upon combat with the Vietnamese, he recalls understanding that much of the important information about the war was actually withheld from him during the conflict.
Part Two
As if combat trauma weren't enough, Lt. Caputo is assigned a difficult task: He is in charge of reporting casualties and maintaining the proper paperwork. He recalls the combination of horror and social order, remembering the absurdity of the war from his death-oriented point of view. In light of the dead, he recalls disappointment about his commanding officers, whose priorities were often entertainment, escape, and sometimes, they would brag about their violence against the Vietnamese.
Lt. Caputo also reports witnessing unnecessary torture of enemy forces.
Part Three
Back into combat, Lt. Caputo finds himself in a rifle company, which is especially dangerous, arduous work. He tells about the long marches through jungle, the many types of risk: boobytraps, snipers, artillery, trouble in the ranks (of his own men who would often disobey him).
This part of the story leads to the story's climax: Lt. Caputo accepts the responsibility of two wrongfully executed Vietnamese soldiers. He is court-martialed, but after due deliberation and defense, the USMC gave him an honorable discharge and dropped the charges. He admits life has been extremely difficult since the war. Among the worst of his PTSD are the visions of Saigon that plague his mind.
