Fictional protagonist Pauley Walker is a young man of principal growing up in the gritty world of the Bronx in the 1950's, where he becomes involved with the mafia as a youngster. He tells the story in first person of his mafia life in New York City, Las Vegas, Florida and Cuba. He then allocates approximately equal text to his experiences as a "tunnel rat" during the 1960's in South Vietnam where he is severley wounded. After his painful physical rehabilitation and retun to the US, both phases of his life end with tragic consequences resulting from his childhood associations.