This is the true story of Lt. Melvin Shadduck, an American pilot, who was captured by the Korean Communists during the Korean War. Thrown into a tent with four other Americans, he finds all of them wounded and without medical care, adequate food or hope of escape. He trades personal belongings and forages for food. By wandering further afield day by day, little attention is paid to him by the Chinese guards and he finally escapes. He manages to reach a friendly Chinese boy, who contacts the Americans. He refuses hospitalization until his fellow prisoners would be rescued, which was accomplished.