In 1778 America, fifteen-year-old indentured servant Diana escapes from her abusive master with the help of army deserter Emmett Shannon, whom she later marries, but when tragedy strikes Diana must learn to survive on her own

Captures the horror, confusion, and courage of combatants in Vietnam, on both sides of the fight, as the struggle moves toward the day when the Tet invasion explodes and changes the course of the war