Time: The winter of 1968. America is involved in a cold war with the Soviet Union, and a hot war in the jungles and rice fields of South Vietnam.
Place: Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.
Situation: A nuclear armed B-52 Bomber that has been flying just outside Soviet air space develops serious mechanical problems and will try to make an emergency landing on the icy runway at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Sergeant Robert Baker, a young Texan and the rest of the Broken Arrow response team wait beside the icy runway for the stricken bomber to land. While they wait for the bomber, Robert remembers the events in his life that led him into this dangerous situation and prays that he will survive the day to go home to Janet, his beautiful but trouble prone new bride.