With US Medics unable to rescue seven casualties because of heavy fire, Technical Sergeant Stephen Gregg retrieves a .30 calibre machine gun and advances, firing from the hip to protect them. After the Medic pulls the last casualty to safety, Gregg runs out of ammunition and is captured by German soldiers. He must find a way to escape.

An isolated American battalion fights to hold a vital mountain stronghold in Italy, known as "Battle Mountain". But the Germans won't give it up without a fight; with artillery and infantry hammering their positions, US troops hole up in a decaying castle on the summit, relying on individual acts of bravery to keep the enemy from overrunning them.