Synopsis

After a friendly-fire incident during the Gulf War leaves him haunted, Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Serling is assigned to investigate whether a fallen helicopter commander deserves the Medal of Honor. As conflicting accounts emerge from the survivors, Serling uncovers a painful truth about loyalty, guilt, sacrifice, and the distortions created by combat trauma.

Factoids & Trivia

• Courage Under Fire was released in the United States on July 12, 1996, and was the first film produced by Fox 2000 Pictures.

• The Pentagon refused the production's request to use official military equipment. Filmmakers instead obtained former Australian Army Centurion tanks and modified them to resemble M1 Abrams tanks.

• Members of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets appeared as soldiers in the basic-training sequences.

• Principal photography took place from October 16, 1995, through January 31, 1996. Filming included locations in Texas, California, and Connecticut, including the National Training Center at Fort Irwin.

• Matt Damon lost approximately 40 pounds to portray the physically weakened Ilario in the film's present-day scenes. The extreme weight loss later caused serious health concerns.

• To prepare for his role as a Gulf War veteran, Denzel Washington spoke with two combat veterans about their experiences and lasting memories of the conflict.

• The film was the second collaboration between Denzel Washington and Edward Zwick, following Glory (1989).

• The story's investigation structure deliberately presents several contradictory versions of the same battlefield event, reflecting the uncertainty and unreliable recollections associated with combat trauma.