Laird Granger is The Cajun, born into a wealthy family in Louisiana. Serving in the U.S. Marines, he is an advisor to a battalion of Vietnamese Marines commanded by Captain Lon Duc. Their battalion is tremendously successful. When the Vietcong rapes and murders Laird's Vietnamese fiancée, he becomes their implacable enemy. Laird meets Jacques LeClerc, a former French paratrooper, at a martial arts academy and they become fast friends. Jacques' sister-in-law, beautiful young Tui, becomes the love of Laird's life. The Cajun is the story of the three men and their families, and their fight against the communists in Indochina. Sent to Laos as a military advisor to the Hmong tribesmen, Laird earns their respect and affection. Their chief joins Laird to his family in a ceremony, which also joins him to the chief's daughter, the Princess Sheng. Sheng's family dies in a battle and Laird brings her out of the wilderness to safety. Laird's uncle sponsors Sheng to come to the US. With Saigon overrun, the three families stage a spectacular escape to Thailand, only to face the failure and disillusionment of their lives. Laird and Tui return to the states when his uncle falls ill. Laird sees Sheng who has borne him a daughter.