Who is Buzzworm from Tropic of Orange: A Novel and what is their importance?

Buzzworm is a man who has seen much suffering in life. He was raised in urban poverty and then served as a soldier in Vietnam. After experiencing the carnage of that war, Buzzworm returned to Los Angeles and battled drug and alcohol addiction. After repeated attempts, Buzzworm managed to escape his addictions and self-destructive behaviors and since has made it his mission to help others. Buzzworm is the least likely character to be a perennial optimist, yet he persists in believing in a utopian vision of Los Angeles's economically depressed neighborhoods.