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Rafael enters the army
in an attempt to befriend a bitter soldier named Tomas. Tomas
hates the army, in particular his commanding officer Colonel Victor
Walls. Both men are Hispanic but Tomas feels that Col. Walls has
rejected his heritage by failing to use his original surname, Paredes.
Tomas requests a transfer from this base, but Col. Walls denies the
request. Rafael meets with Col. Walls, who suggests he change
his name to Ralph as a means to get along better in the army.
When Tomas hears of this, a fight breaks out in the barracks between
Rafael, Tomas, and another soldier. Rafael gets a scolding from
Tess for being the first angel to hit an assignment and all three
soldiers end up in the military jail. It is in jail that Rafael
learns that Col. Walls is actually Tomas' father and he has another
son, Paul, who is missing in action in Bosnia. This is a further
source of frustration for Tomas because the army cannot give the
family any straight answers regarding Paul's situation. Monica
arrives at the jail as the army lawyer who will represent Tomas, and
she reprimands him for his attitude towards his father. Later,
when Tomas is out of jail, he brings Rafael with him to a family
dinner at the Walls (Paredes) home. A fight between father and
son is stifled when Andrew appears at the door as a casualty officer,
bearing the news that Paul was killed in battle. Col. Walls
guards his emotions, and this further drives a wedge between Col.
Walls and Tomas, who doesn't believe his father loves him. Col.
Walls brightens at the news that Paul was killed saving other
soldiers' lives, making him a hero. When an ambiguous postcard
arrives posthumously from Paul to Tomas, a confused and despairing
Tomas confronts his father with a gun, hoping to learn the truth about
his brother's death. But when he sees that his father is
unafraid, Tomas turns the gun on himself, pleading for his father to
tell him the truth. When Col. Walls doesn't, Tomas leaves.
Monica reveals herself to Col. Walls explaining that although he has
served his country, he needs to serve God and tell his family the
truth. Col. Walls returns home to tell his family the truth,
that he pulled some strings to get Paul a dangerous assignment.
Tomas is upset by the news and leaves. Rafael appears and
reveals himself to Tomas, urging him to forgive his father for his
wrongdoing. The next day at the memorial service for Paul, his
parents and the angels are unsure if Tomas will attend. As Col.
Walls begins the eulogy Tomas, enters the service. Col. Walls
speaks of the mistakes he has made both as an officer and as a father
and professes his love for Tomas. The father and son salute each
other respectfully, then break down into a tearful embrace. Tess,
Monica, Andrew, and Rafael smile, realizing their assignment is
complete.
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