Grandpa's 90 year old sister-in-law, Martha Corrine (Beulah Bondi), comes to the mountain to visit. She's a meddlesome house guest, but her cantankerous ways mask a solemn secret. She helps Ben build a pony cart.
John-Boy becomes the target of public indignation when he insists on printing excerpts from Hitler's "Mein Kampf" in his newspaper. Erin competes in a beauty pageant.
Grandpa's sister in law is being forced out of their home by a government project. The Waltons go to their land to help defend the homestead. John-Boy is torn between his ideals and the family loyalty.
John-Boy sent his novel to a publisher and does not hear anything. He travels to New York to get an update. There, he is torn between the city and home.
Curt is called to serve in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and Walton's Mountain receives its first war casualty when G.W. is killed in a training exercise. Yancy Tucker marries Cissy and tries to enlist.
The Waltons find out Sheriff Ep is a decorated war hero and John-Boy wants to write about it. Ep wants to keep it quiet. Also, an old friend of Ep's comes to visit. Jim-Boy likes to talk to her about cars and war.
Grandpa Zeb (Will Greer) has died and everyone is mourning. Neighbor Flossie Brimmer has also died. Mary Ellen and Erin move to Charlottesville into an apartment to be on their own. John tries to get a large lumber contract.
A fire breaks out and burns most of the house. John-Boy loses his completed novel in order to save Erin. As John, Grandpa and John-Boy make repairs, the family must send the younger children to friends and neighbors.
