The Korean-born author, who later became a doctor in the United States, documents his life giving insights into Korea's culture and an intimate portriat of the Korean War from his perspective as a soldier. Out of love, the youthful Chung promises his mother to return from the war in three days. The war that separated his family and his country kept the vow from being realized for more than three decades. He expresses desire for reunion with his mother, reunification for Korea, and recognition for all veterans of this "forgotten war."