In the summer of 1922, Robert Shannon, a young American hero of the Great War, lands in Ireland. A Marine chaplain, he was present at the frightful Battle of Belleau Wood, and he still suffers from shell shock. His mentor hopes that a journey Robert had always wanted to make to find his family roots will restore his equilibrium and his vocation.

In 1953, Desmond Doyle takes on the Irish family law system and the Catholic Church in a bid to be reunited with his children. Despite a strong work ethic, Desmond has a hard time holding on to steady work. Desmond's wife walks out on the relationship and his sporadic employment eventually attracts the attention of the law. A court order sends his two sons and young daughter to separate Catholic orphanages until Desmond can prove he's capable of properly...