An inexperienced Navy lawyer, LTJG Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), son of late Lionel Kaffee (who held the positions of Attorney General and Navy Judge Advocate General), leads the defense in the court-martial of two Marines, PFC Louden Downey (James Marshall) and LCpl Harold Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison), who are accused of murdering a fellow Marine of their unit, PFC William T. Santiago (Michael DeLorenzo), while stationed at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The movie is based on a Gitmo case tried by former LT Don Marcari (now in private practice in Virginia Beach, VA), former LT Chris Johnson (now in private practice in L.A.) and former LT David Iglesias.