It's1942andHarryFlynnleavesbehindtheloveofhislifetojourneyintoaworldoftigers,elephantsandHimalayanMountains.Herehemusttakerisksifheistosurvive.Heenliststofightinthewarexpectingtofindthethrillofdangerandhonorofmilitaryservice.Insteadofafightingposition,HarryissenttotheForgottenFrontintheIndiansubcontinentasanordinarysupplyofficer.There,GeneralJoseph'VinegarJoe'Stilwellisconstructinga'roadtonowhere'throughJapanese-occupiedBurma.ThegeneralwilldoanythingtogettheroadbuiltInthisexoticworldwithNagaheadhunters,opium-smokingKachintribesmen,andmarauderswhoscornbothlifeanddeath,Harryforgesunlikelyfriendships.Heisforcedtoobeyordersthatchallengehisprinciplesandistornbetweenbeingtruetohimselfof'nomanatall.'Eventually,notwillingtoletUncleSamneedlesslycondemntheroadcrewtodeath,herebels.Hetriestosabotagetheroad'sprogresswhereanall-blackconstructionregimentislosingamanamileduetodiseaseandcrumblingmountainslopes.Thenacommandingofficerspotshisunconventionalskills.Immediatelyhe'stransferredtoAmerica'sfirstguerrilla-supportedunit:Merrill'sMaraudersandlatertheMarsTaskForce.Here,hemustentrusthislifetoothers.Duringatimewhenboyswereforcedtocomeofageonthebattlefield,Harrymustfindwhatmakeshislifeworthlivingordie.ThelessonslearnedinWorldWarIIapplytoallwars,wheremenwalkawaycarryingunspeakablememoriesandlivesthat'couldhavebeen'hauntthosethatlived.BehindtheForgottenFrontbringsthemallbacktolifeandshowsthathistoryisaboutfactsdrivenbypassionsandsometimesthemistakesofrealpeople.