After rumors surface that there are remaining prisioners of war in Vietnam, Col. Samuel Troutman (Richard Crenna) pulls some strings and gets John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) released from Federal Prison. Rambo is told to go in, get proof that the prisoners are there and leave but his suspicions of the government run high. After meeting up with Co Bao (Julia Nickson), Rambo works to find the prisoners of war. After becoming close in their time together, Co Bao is killed sending Rambo into a tailspin of violence and distruct. He begins killing anyone and everyone that gets in the way of his mission, determined not to simply find the prisoners but to also rescue them. After returning to the pickup point with a rescued POW, Murdock (Charles Napier) reveals his true colors by abandoning Rambo to be captured and hopefully killed. Murdock doesn't understand who he is dealing with and Rambo makes it his ultimate desire to get revenge.