Fill-in host Adam Sandler (with assistance from his dog, Matzoball II) welcomes Don Cheadle, Danica Patrick, and Todd Barry as his guests. Lucinda Williams performs "Are You Alright?"

When a supposedly frozen to death Marine turns out alive on Ducky's autopsy table, the NCIS team has to find out about the victim's movements last few days to uncover what happened to him and who left him for dead. As the investigation progresses, the team learns about the victim's trip to Baghdad via a private cargo plane and discovers a link to Gibbs' past.

While unveiling threat # .5 as an addendum to yesterday's threatdown, Stephen finds himself in agreement with a German environmentalist over the euthanasia of Knut, a polar bear cub at the Berlin zoo, until Stephen becomes suddenly enamored when viewing footage of the cub. Later, Colbert collects on a hockey bet with the mayor of Oshawa, Ontario, wherein this day would become "Stephen Colbert Day" in the town; the day was chosen to be the same day as the mayor's birthday.

The Unit travels to Israel to learn some new techniques in terrorist tactics and how to defend against these tactics. Charles becomes interested in a Sergeant in the Israeli Army, yet things turn very dangerous when they go off alone together. On the home front, Tiffy finds some WWII memorabilia and begins soul searching on what she should do with it.