The novel reaches its climax when Steven Brandt, the medic in Tyson’s platoon and the only surviving witness of the massacre, testifies against Tyson.
Brandt reveals that he was actually working for Prince Jin as a spy and that he orchestrated the massacre to frame Tyson and his men. Brandt also confesses that he killed several members of Tyson’s platoon after they returned from Vietnam to silence them.
Tyson is stunned by Brandt’s betrayal and confronts him in court. He accuses Brandt of being a traitor and a murderer who has no honor.
He also declares that he has no regrets for what he did in Vietnam and that he would do it again if he had to. He says that he acted according to his code of honor, which was to protect his men and his country.
The novel ends with Tyson being acquitted of all charges by the jury. He is reunited with his wife Marcy, who had supported him throughout the ordeal, and his son David, who had admired him as a hero.
He also reconciles with Harper, who resigns from the Army and joins Corva’s law firm. Tyson decides to write his own book about his experiences in Vietnam and hopes to find peace and redemption.
The Themes
Word of Honor is a novel that explores complex and challenging themes related to war, crime, punishment, culpability of leaders, guilt, justice, honor, and redemption. The novel raises questions such as:
- What is honor? How does one define it? How does one uphold it?
- What is guilt? How does one cope with it? How does one atone for it?
- What is justice? How does one seek it? How does one deliver it?
- What is redemption? How does one achieve it? How does one deserve it?
The novel also examines the impact of the Vietnam War on the American society, culture, and psyche. The novel portrays the war as a brutal and senseless conflict that caused immense suffering and loss for both sides.
The novel also depicts the war as a divisive and controversial issue that polarized the American public and created a generation gap between those who supported the war and those who opposed it.
