After accidentally shipping a crate of nuclear fusion triggers to Malawi, Floyd McMasters and Stu Cutshaw go AWOL. With the Army hot on their trail, the soldiers wind up in Floyd's old home town, where they're immediately swept up in the local mayoral election. Floyd has in his possession a Medal of Victory, given to him by a dying Marine, and both candidates-the incumbent Ted Crump and the financier Harry Maddox -want the supposed war hero's endorsement. Hoping to get a lot of cash and get out of town, Floyd and Stu start using the medal to their advantage, but an absurdist chain of events soon sends their plan spinning out of control. Embroiled in corrupt political schemes and confronted by specters from his past, Floyd must decide whether to keep running or go home again.