WHEN TRUMPETS FADE DVD

Private David Manning is a soldier in the 28th Infantry Division, and as a result of the horrendous fighting in the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest, he is the sole survivor of his platoon. Manning is assigned to lead a squad of green reinforcements and promoted to sergeant. He tries to get out of it, saying he is unqualified for the position, but his company commander, Captain Roy Pritchett, thinks otherwise. Manning then tries to back out of responsibility by asking to be discharged under Section 8 (designating him mentally unfit due to combat stress), but his request is denied. Manning meets with his new men and later that evening, leads them into position on the line. The next morning, while on patrol with his squad, Manning puts Private Warren Sanderson on point. However, Sanderson goes forward too quickly and gets separated from the squad, before narrowly avoiding contact with the enemy. After some time, Manning decides the squad must leave without Sanderson right before the latter returns. After this incident, Manning is scorned by his peers and berated by his platoon leader, First Lieutenant Terrence Lukas. Manning's company makes a push toward the town of Schmidt in order to take and hold a key bridge. However, they move into an enemy minefield and are shelled by 88 mm guns. The company retreats, and Pritchett comes to Manning with a volunteer mission to destroy the guns, before promising to offer Manning a Section 8 if he volunteers for and succeeds on the mission….