Disabled veterans hold a unique place in the history of veterans in the United States, one that palpably illustrates the human cost of war and speaks to the enormous sacrifices of military service. Debt of Honor takes an unflinching look at the reality of warfare, disability, and the physical and psychological toll of violent conflict. Beginning in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, through today's continuing conflicts in the Middle East, the film examines the way in which the American government and society as a whole have regarded disabled veterans, and explores the societal perception of soldiers and the wars they fight, as well as the repercussions of the growing divide between civilians and those who serve in the armed forces.