A young man's journey to finding himself... Joe is a young man growing up in 60s America, who is trying to find his place in the world with no special skills or talents; the only defining characteristics he possesses are curiosity, a need to explore, and good intentions. A young man who once couldn't find his way out of his own hometown, he vows to meet the people on the other side of the world someday. He joins the Army after high school, and the ramifications of this decision are more than what he ever imagined. He travels to Thailand and Korea, and discovers that the real world is not as rosy as he had pictured it. He has to deal with the harsh realities of life while trying to conform and grow. He goes from boy, to man, to monster, and finally to pacifist, all the while being forced to face his fears at almost every turn. His life is full of adventure and challenges, sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, and eventually he has to face his biggest challenge yet: his own mortality.