An unnamed young American serving on the Italian front during World War I. He is recovering from an unspecified physical injury in an army hospital, where he undergoes surgery and relies on the medical staff for his rehabilitation. His temporary removal from combat allows him to focus entirely on his recovery and his growing attachment to his nurse. He exhibits a strong desire for domestic stability upon his eventual return to the United States.

A nurse working in an army hospital in Padua, Italy, during World War I. She tends to wounded soldiers within the demanding environment of wartime medical care. Her presence offers a soothing contrast to the trauma of the war, and she carries out her medical duties while simultaneously engaging in a relationship that is openly tolerated by the hospital staff. She maintains a practical outlook regarding her work and her future.