When Trumpets Fade

Private David Manning is a soldier in the 28th Infantry Division (United States) who, in order to survive, does just enough to stay out of trouble but not enough to actually make a difference. Through the sheer bloodiness of the Hürtgen battles, Manning is left as the sole survivor of his platoon. He is assigned to lead a squad of green reinforcements and promoted to sergeant. He tries to get out of it, saying he is unqualified for the position, but his company commander, Captain Roy Pritchett, thinks otherwise. Manning then tries to back out of responsibility by asking to be filed on a Section 8 (military) (designating him mentally unfit due to combat stress), but is refused.