AWOL

One of the passage that I found interesting from "The Things They Carried" was on page 35. In this passge, it talks about a guy going AWOL and be treated by a nurse. This passge shows an instance of a peace story. It states, "A guy goes AWOL. Shacks up in Danang with a Red Cross nurse. It's a great time ---the nurse loves him to death---the guy gets whatever he wants whenever he wants it." The story talks about a guy who is unable to tolerate that enormous amount of peace so he went back into combat. I think that the soldier feels the need to go back to combat because he felt unease from all the calmness and joy. I can sort of understand why the soldier wanted to go back to war. It was probably because he was bored. This passage caught my eye because of the paradox that it had: "All that peace, man, it felt so good it hurt. I want to hurt it back."

Letter From a Soldier

Dear General Smash,

Life behind enemy lines is not very comforting. I have to be highly cautious 24/7, since enemy soldiers are all over the forest. If I let my guard down, enemies will take that advantage against me and either take me prisoner or kill me. I can't find any peace and time to lay down and rest. It has been a long couple of years since I have joined the service, and I miss my home everyday. I miss the home-cooked meals, my warm comfortable bed, and the way I can sleep through the night without worry about dying in my sleep. I hope this war will be over soon so that I can go home to my family.

Sincerely,
Richard Fang

DotA

------------------------------------------------------------FIRST BLOOD!----------------------------------------------------

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