Synopsis

An American drama television series that aired between September 1987 to April 1990 as 58 one–hour episodes, Tour of Duty is set during the Vietnam war and chronicles the lives of American soldiers as they carry out their "Tour of Duty".

Inspired by Oliver stones Vietnam War film Platoon, Tour of Duty was one of the first television series to show Americans in combat in Vietnam. The show however, was not simply about the action of war, instead taking the form of a complex drama show which tackled the issues of racism, suicide, fragging, terrorism, civilian deaths, drug abuse, and the broken men who would return home, traumatised by the war.

The show began quite realistic, illustrating the lives of a standard light infantry platoon following mainly the characters of Bravo company's second platoon under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Myron Goldman (Stephen Caffrey), and Staff Sergeant (later Sergeant First Class) Zeke Anderson (Terence Knox). Initially filmed on location in Hawaii and later on the old sets of M*A*S*H, Tour of Duty stars a large ensemble cast that is as fluid and changing as the nature of the unit of soldiers it follows.