Chapter 1, "In the Valley of Bones" Summary and Analysis

James Carroll reflects upon what takes place in the chapel at Bolling Air Force Base on Saturday, February 23, 1969. He is then Father James Carroll celebrating his first Mass and giving his first sermon at his parent's parish according to tradition. Catholics call the chapel "Our Lady of Perpetual Help," but others call it the chapel. It is on the east side of the Potomac River between airplane hangars and the Officers' Club. More than two hundred are in attendance including Air Force officers and generals with their wives. Some attendees run Operation Rolling Thunder that drops more tons of bombs in Asia than was dropped in Germany in WWII. Host and hostess are Father James Carroll's parents, Lieutenant-General and Mrs. Joseph F. Carroll, Joe and Mary. He is founding...