John and Olivia celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and Mary Ellen and Curt both fight temptation during their separation due to the army.
Mary Ellen becomes dependent on drugs while preparing for her final exams for nursing school. Sissy wants to divorce Yancy.
Erin becomes the pin-up girl of Camp Lee when Ben enters her photo in a contest. Mary Ellen becomes obsessed with her role as a mother to John Curtis.
Ike has a heart attack from the stress of war-time shortages, and the Waltons pitch in to keep the store going. Ben and Jim-Bob build a sorghum mill to produce molasses.
