Gardens of Stone

Sergeant First Class Clell Hazard, a hardened veteran, is assigned to the ceremonial honor guard of The Old Guard at Fort Myer, Virginia. He would rather be an instructor at Fort Benning, but his unit trains and guards tombs and funerals instead. The year is 1968, during the height of the Vietnam War.

Jackie Willow, the son of an old friend and fellow soldier, is assigned to Hazard's platoon. Hazard initially treats the assignment with skepticism, viewing the unit as a collection of ceremonial 'toy soldiers' rather than a frontline unit. The potential bond between mentor and protégé begins to form on base in Fort Myer.

Hazard tries to warn Willow about the realities of Vietnam and the cost of war. Willow insists on his duty to fight for his country, believing soldiers must stand their ground regardless of the war’s nature. The conversation underscores their differing views on where and how the conflict should be fought.

Hazard expresses his frustration that good soldiers are being wounded and killed in a war he feels the U.S. is not fighting to win. He resents the idea of fighting a 'wrong' war and questions the purpose of the soldiers’ sacrifice. This bitterness informs his relationship with Willow and the platoon.

Willow’s father, a retired master sergeant and former Korean War comrade, dies of a heart attack. Hazard begins to see Willow as a son, offering guidance and mentorship as Willow grows into a capable soldier. The loss deepens Hazard’s emotional investment in Willow’s future.

Willow marries Rachel Feld, the colonel’s daughter who initially resists marrying a soldier. The couple navigates fears about the war and the dangerous life Willow leads, reflecting the strain that service in combat places on personal relationships.

Hazard is divorced and has not seen his own son in years, a personal toll that mirrors the wider costs of war. This background fuels his protective stance toward Willow and his desire to keep at least one man safe.

Willow distinguishes himself in training and on exercises, earning a promotion to sergeant. His leadership leads to a strong recommendation to attend Officer Candidate School, signaling a potential path to command.

Willow completes Officer Candidate School and is commissioned as a second lieutenant. He is ordered to serve in a combat unit in Vietnam, stepping into frontline leadership and the direct risks of war.

From Vietnam, Willow writes Hazard about the good men in his platoon who are being lost in combat. Hazard learns from these letters about the human cost of the war and the lives touched by conflict far from home.

Moved by Willow’s letters and the bond they've formed, Hazard asks to be sent to Vietnam for a third tour as a platoon sergeant in a combat infantry unit. The request demonstrates Hazard’s desire to stand beside his surrogate son in battle.

Willow is killed in action in Vietnam, and Hazard learns of the burial orders for his friend. At Arlington National Cemetery, Hazard places his Combat Infantryman Badge on Willow’s flag-draped coffin, and Wildman and Flanagan attend the funeral as military honors are rendered. The film closes with the ceremonial tribute and the solemn sound of taps.