In the "early summer of 1950", Martin Greer owns a small construction company. An United States Army combat engineer#United States Army for four years during World War II, he and wife Nancy have two young children. Employee George Kress asks Martin to write a letter to the Selective Service System stating that his son, George Jr., is "indispensable" for their company and thus exempt from the draft. Martin refuses, and George Jr. joins the United States Army as the Korean War begins.