"A Soldier's Story" is about the murder of a black soldier near the end of World War II. Captain Davenport (Howard E. Rollins, Jr.), is sent to investigate the ruthless shooting death of Sergeant Walters (Adolph Ceasar). Initially, he believes that Walters' death is the latest in a series of racially motivated slayings. But through interviews, Davenport learns that Sarge was a vicious man who drove his men to the brink of rebellion.