Merlin Marston

Hank Marshall is a tough, square-jawed, straitlaced Army engineer and nuclear science expert, assigned to help conduct weapons testing in 1950s America. Hank has become a thorn in the side of the Army, though, for a couple of very different reasons. He is an outspoken opponent of atmospheric testing, though his superiors hold contrary views and want to squelch his concerns...and his reports. The other problem is his wife, Carly. She is voluptuous and volatile, wreaking havoc in his personal life and stirring up intrigue at each new Army base.

Tracers follows a group of young American soldiers from basic training through their combat experiences in Vietnam and, for those who survive, their difficult return to civilian life. The film explores the legacy of the original stage production, which was created by Vietnam veterans and became one of the most influential artistic works about the war. Perniciaro's film combines documentary storytelling with staged performance to tell both the story of the play and the experiences that inspired it.