Twenty year old Bud McLean and his colleagues from the Canadian 5th Armoured Division come of age against the backdrop of WW2 Italy. Thirteen men hung precariously to a tiny bridgehead, waiting to be reinforced. Out-manned, and out-gunned, their commander radioed the recce troop and gave them permission to retreat if they deemed it necessary. They chose to stay. On an obscure river bank south of Rome, a Canadian action at the little known Battle of the Melfa River, threw open the door to Rome and saved thousands of Allied lives.