Summary

The novel opens with Raymond Shaw in a hotel room in San Francisco, telephoning the father of Eddie Mavole, a man he served with in the Korean War. He wants to visit Eddie's family on his way to receive a Medal of Honor in Washington to talk about him and how he died to help the family cope. Mr. Mavole works for the local newspaper, and when Raymond arrives to visit him, the paper has sent along another reporter to cover Raymond's visit. Raymond also used to work for a newspaper, and remembering how nervous he was during his first interview, he tries to make things easier for Mardell, the girl sent to write about him.

Mr. Mavole, Raymond and Mardell go out for coffee so the girl can get enough information to write up a piece about the war hero visiting the hometown of...