The main character, Richie Perry, is a young African American man who grew up in Harlem, New York. His Father left when he was just a boy and he becomes "the man" of the family, taking care of his drunk mother and younger brother. He's a smart kid and wants to go to college but doesn't have the resources, so he enlists in the Vietnam War. Going into Vietnam he has a medical profile for his knee, he falsely believes that this profile will prevent him from being in combat. His view of the war is somewhat naive and he falls under the impression that rumors of peace are true. Upon arrival in Vietnam, he befriends someone from Chicago, also a young African American who has been placed in his squad, his name is Peewee and the two become friends quickly. Perry goes in and out of battle frequently - each time becoming extremely nervous and concerned for his life. He sees men die from his troop and it holds a heavy weight on his shoulders, he even faces death in the face once when he encounters a North Vietnamese soldier holding a gun in his face yet not being able to get the trigger working. He gets injured recovers and is soon sent back to work in the war, him and peewee fight side by side until again they both get injured and are eventually sent home. Throughout the novel Perry's character obviously changes and hardens - fallen angels, or a loss of innocence is something that this boy, now a man sees in the war.