Part 2, Epilogue Summary

On May 24, 1989, an event takes place which holds great meaning for Lt. Lewis B. Puller, Jr. A dozen Soviet veterans of the war in Afghanistan come to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to pay respect to the American war dead. In his capacity as attorney and adviser to the office of the secretary of defense, Lewis is asked to receive the Soviet veterans at the memorial. This is not Lewis' first trip back to the memorial. Lewis had visited the wall every Memorial Day and Veterans Day since its opening, to honor his comrades and to seek out the company of other surviving veterans.

Lewis awaits the Soviet veterans with mixed emotions. Lewis has regarded the Soviets as enemies his entire life and he had been strongly indoctrination against the evils of Communism; however, Lewis is excited to meet the men, nonetheless...