The movie is set in 1969 during the Vietnam War. It is partially based on the real events of the soldiers of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during the battle for the hill. The focus of the movie is a group of roughly twelve members of a rifle platoon who are assigned to take hill 937 in the Ashau Valley. Sgt. Franz (Dylan McDermott) leads the group which also includes Pvt. Washburn (Don Cheadle) and Motown (Michael Boatman).
