Eddie’s mother makes a special meal for him on his 17th birthday. Joe tells his parents that Eddie met the woman of his dreams the night before, bringing on Eddie’s wrath. After dinner, Eddie’s mother dances with him before making him dance with Joe, turning the night into a celebration.

Eddie finds himself near a familiar village. He finds a helmet, rifle, and dog tags that upset him when he sees his name on them. Eddie was working at Ruby Pier, saving money to study engineering, when the war began. Eddie enlisted quickly, practicing his shooting skills at the arcade at Ruby Pier. Mickey Shea warned him war wasn’t a game, but he thought Mickey was just a drunk.

The second person Eddie meets in heaven is his captain from World War II. They fought together in the Philippines where Eddie’s troop, including the captain, was taken prisoner by four Filipino guards. Eddie, the captain, and three other soldiers were held in a bunker and forced to work in a coal mine all day. One of the soldiers became ill and one of the guards shot him.