While home on furlough, John Boy has a hard time trying to remember when he was shot down with his friend Stewart while flying over Belgium. Ike looks to John for help when he gets drafted by the Army.

It's the end of the school year on Walton's Mountain and Jim Bob will be graduating. When teacher Corabeth informs him that as long as he passes an upcoming test, he'll have the highest grades in his class and will be the valedictorian. However, Jim Bob is less than thrilled the prospect of having to stand up and give a speech and contemplates failing on purpose so he won't have to. Then on graduation day, Corabeth panics when she can't find Jim Bob and his classmates, only to have a surprise when they eventually arrive in time to receive their diplomas.