An American soldier named Harold Russell, who lost both of his hands in a training accident, recounts the story of his medical rehabilitation at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, District of Columbia. He describes how he and his fellow amputees at the hospital at first despaired, but then found new hope in the prostheses and training that were made available to amputees by the Army's medical corps. Russell becomes skilled in the use of the hooks that replace his hands and learns how to wear and operate them. As a result, he is able to accomplish many tasks that he had previously believed were impossible. After being honorably discharged from the army, he was welcomed to Boston College by William J. Murphy, S.J., the president of the college.