They sign up in the Israeli embassy and get flown out to Israel and driven to a camp where they are kitted out and prepared for the coming war. They meet up with other recruits, and are paraded in front of their Colonel, a man called Weintraub. That afternoon they are loaded into trucks and sent south towards Egypt. The next morning they are sent into the attack, and overrun the Egyptian defences. Casca and Harry are promoted to sergeants for their part in the fight.
They are then sent further into Egyptian territory to attack the stronghold of Rafah. After running into severe enemy fire Casca leads a counter attack that drives the Arabs back and is rewarded with yet another promotion, this to lieutenant. After more inspired attacks he was rewarded with another promotion to major. They are then ordered to attack another Egyptian fortress at Al Arish, and on the way learn from the radio that Syria, Lebanon and Jordan are also fighting Israel. In the attack on the Egyptian fortress they use their artillery to devastating effect, and capture the position.
They are then flown to Abu Agheila, another fortress which quickly falls. Casca's until are then switched to Jerusalem where the Israelis are fighting the Jordanians for control of the holy city. Fighting spreads down the streets and bitter battles are fought from house to house. In one vicious fight Harry is killed. Casca is promoted to lieutenant-Colonel under the new general Weintraub's division, and they are sent south to secure Bethlehem, which they do after a short tank battle. In the aftermath, Casca wanders the streets and finds a shop that sells souvenirs, and amongst it is a parchment that refers to the curse he suffers from. He buys the incomplete parchment but only learns from its translation that he will return to Israel a total of seven times. The rest is missing.
The next day sees the attack on Jericho which is completed with one awesome artillery barrage. This signalled the end of the war against Egypt, Jordan and the Lebanon, but Syria still was fighting. The next day Casca and his men are sent north to seize the Golan Heights from the Syrians. Casca's force is to attack the fortress of Tel Faq'r. General Weintraub is killed leading the attack so Casca takes over, leading the Israeli army up the steep slopes, ignoring horiffic losses. Tel Faq'r falls and Casca is promoted to general.
The next morning Syria appears to surrender and Casca accepts the commander's offer of his weapons. The war ends and all are returned to their starting ranks. On their return they are ambushed by bedouins at an oasis and in the fight all are killed except for Casca, who is left to lament the loss of more friends.