User Reviews

The first season Frank Overton's Maj. Stovall was a major role, supporting Gen. Savage and actually instrumental in saving his life 3 times. This is the first show in the second season where he is given a storyline that allows him to really develop his character and showcase his impressive acting skills. Stovall's son is MIA, most likely dead. This is the fifth of 6 timesFrank played the role of a father of a dead child, more than any other actor I know. He was a master of sorrow and anguish. His first time was in Studio One: The Remarkable Incident at Carsons corner, the last, his last role was on Bonanza:Wormwood Cup, both available on DVD. I suspect part of his ability was his own experience of his fathers untimely death when Frank was only14. This episode likely also had another personal meaning for Frank. He did not serve in WWII, because of poor vision, but both his brothers did. His older bother Robert was Army in the ETO, and his younger brother John was a bomber pilot in the Pacific. Every time he he got in the cockpit he must have thought of what his brother went through.

There is a final irony; both his brothers survived the war, but Frank was the first to die at just 49 y/o, leaving his mother to experience the anguish he had portrayed so often.

When the episode begins, Major Stovall learns that his son is missing in action...which usually means the guy is dead. Stovall decides at that moment that he should return to flying and abandon his desk job. Why? Because now he doesn't feel a need to stay alive for his son. But Stovall's in his mid-40s...and can only fly if he gets s special deferment AND can pass the physicals. But is this a good idea?

This is a very good episode of the show. While mid-40s doesn't seem old to me, reflexes and fatigue become a serious issue. The problem is, can Stovall recognize this in himself? Tune in to see.