At the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, a teenage recruit endures the intensity of training. While other recruits drop out due to physical weakness, illness, or injuries, the recruit endures and befriends another recruit named Jorgesen. Jorgesen is different from the others because he doesn't believe in the Vietnam War. In fact, he dreams of living in New York City and becoming a painter. What stands out about Jorgesen is his blue eyes. Jorgeson's friendship means a lot to the recruit. When he is separated from Jorgesen after training, he transfers to a different platoon in order to reunite with Jorgesen. However, Jorgesen is different: he has been training intensely to go into combat, and he does not mention one word about his artist dreams. Together, they go into combat in Vietnam. A rocket grenade explodes on Jorgeson, and right before he dies, his blue eyes turn gray. After the war, the recruit boxes a formidable opponent in order to re-live the rush of the war. While the recruit wins, he immediately develops headaches. Later, the recruit develops Dostoyevski's epilepsy, which are epilepsies that are a result of psychology rather than of brain damage. His sister hires a surgeon, and the recruit decides to go through with the operation.