It's 1967 during the Vietnam War. Zack Tonakis (White) is a young medic/psych tech who along with his buddy, Robert Turner, (Black) is assigned to the psychiatric ward of a stateside Army hospital. The ward houses young soldiers who are depressed; paranoid; obsessive-compulsive; a sociopath; and even a catatonic. Others, like Joker Berkowski who's described as "crazy funny," are there for a "failure to adjust" to Army life.

A major, not of the medical profession, is brought in on temporary assignment while a qualified replacement is sought. The major, a short-timer, wants nothing to jeopardize his coming retirement. His right hand, Sergeant Helms, views patients as cowards and phonies. An inept ward psychiatrist is of little help to the patients. A patient escapes during a ball game prompting the major to shut down all outdoor activities. His mantra becomes: "Keep them invisible."

The first story, "The Ball Game", introduces the soldiers who will have their own stories told in the collection. The main protagonist, psych tech Zack Tonakis, will follow the soldiers throughout the novel. Zack carries his own demons from the past.