A biography of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and his decorated military career draws on Kerry's personal archives, as well as interviews with a host of friends, family, and colleagues, to examine Kerry's service during the Vietnam War and the profound influence of his service on his life and political career.

Prologue: April 22, 1971 (Washington, D.C.) --Up from Denver -- Yale Years -- California Bound -- High Seas Adventures -- Training Days at Coronado -- Trial by Desert -- In-Country -- PCF-44 -- Up the Rivers -- Death in the Delta -- Braving the Bo De River -- Taking Command of PCF-94 -- Medals -- Homecoming -- Winter Soldier -- Enemy Number One -- Duty Continued -- Epilogue: September 2, 2003 (Charleston, South Carolina) -- Interviews.