An army major, himself guilty of cowardice, is asked to recommend soldiers for the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Mexican Border Incursion of 1916.

After a cavalry charge during the 1916 U.S. "war against Pancho Villa," unheroic awards officer Tom Thorn (who is obsessed with the nature of courage) recommends 4 men for the Medal of Honor. He is ordered back to Cordura with them...and prisoner Adelaide Geary, gringo who sheltered the enemy. On the arduous journey, Thorn's heroes show a different face, and Thorn may have one last chance to prove he's no coward.—Rod Crawford <[email protected]>

In 1916, the American Army is hunting Pancho Villa down in Mexico. The awards officer Major Thomas Thorn is assigned as observer in the battlefield to seek out heroes in the regiment of veteran Colonel Rogers during the attack to Ojos Azules villa to be nominated to the Medal of Honor with Pvt. Andrew Hetherington that is riding with him. The villa is owned by the American Adelaide Geary, who welcomes Pancho Villa's men after their raids. However, Colonel Rogers commands the attack and defeats them in Ojos Azules. Thorn identifies acts of heroism by Lt. Fowler, Sgt. Chawk, Cpl. Trubee and Pvt. Renziehausen during the charge. When Colonel Rogers learns that was not nominated by Thorn for the Medal of Honor, he is furious with Thorn. Rogers unsuccessfully tries to change his position reminding Thorn that he was protected by him from an investigation of cowardice in respect to his father. Thorn rides with the five soldiers and Geary, who is accused of giving hospitality to Pancho Villa's men to Candura. Along the difficulties of their journey, Thorn researches the feelings of the men during their heroic acts and learns that one heroic act does not turn men into heroes.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil