Now that Paul O'Brien has returned from serving in Vietnam, he wants nothing more than to piece together a meaningful life, but the war spawned, guilt-driven nightmares won't stop haunting him. Elizabeth is determined to help him overcome the obstacles in their path while living in an era when veterans refuse to speak of their pain, they are ignored by the bureaucracy that put them in harm's way, and are vilified by public opinion. Together they struggle a lifetime with the challenges of raising a family and learn to accept the realities of living with the burden that Paul brought home. In the shadows of the Vietnam War, tens of thousands of veterans keep silent, even amongst themselves. Their children are witness to the travesty of war, seen through the eyes of their fathers who, in spite of themselves, leave behind legacies of light, love, and understanding.