What Now Lieutenant? is the story of a Chinese-American favorite son who defies his family's hopes, faces his own naiveté, and struggles with cultural stereotypes when he enlists in the Marine Corps.

Seeking a rite of passage into manhood, the pampered Michael reports first to Boot Camp; and then Officer's Candidate School, where he confronts his weaknesses as well as uncovers his strengths.

Assigned to an infantry battalion, the newly minted Second Lieutenant takes command of a platoon of 35 seasoned Marines.

Six months later, his battalion leaves for a routine overseas deployment to Okinawa, Japan. The next morning, they receive orders to deploy immediately to Saudi Arabia to fight a full scale war with Iraq.

Now, the young officer needs all his wits and training to bring his Marines and himself back alive.