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Adeline Laurente
Mrs. Martino
AP Language & Composition Period 3
28 March 2012
Remembering the War
Soldiers going to war often endure various experiences that take a large toll on the mind
and heart. The Vietnam War is an example of a war that heavily affected the soldiers involved.
Life during the war varied from being fast paced to feeling like time is not moving at all. The
constant change of scenery and emotions that the soldiers experienced usually put them on edge.
Their thoughts became chaotic and uncontrollable, which created inconsistency in their mental
state. The inability to maintain a steady mind often makes remembering different war memories
difficult. Brutal and violent wars usually have a larger impact on the mental state of soldiers. In
Tim O’Brien’s novel, The Things They Carried, the characters are soldiers who struggle with
retelling their experiences from the Vietnam War. It is difficult to decipher between what is true
and what is fiction when the experience is extremely detrimental to the mind and spirit. After
enduring the horrifying experiences of the Vietnam War, the returning soldiers have a hard time
telling a true war story because recognizing the real truth can be extremely difficult.
Throughout the novel there are various war stories told. There are always differences in
the way that a person tells a war story. The emotions and feelings that one may experience differ
from soldier to soldier while in war. Although the soldiers endure the same experiences and
predicaments, their thoughts are never the same. While under fatal conditions, thoughts begin to
race and there is never consistency. An inconsistent mind affects one’s thoughts even when
under no danger. While trying to retell a story exactly how it is, the truth begins to get lost in all
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the meaningless details. The details that are remembered usually seem irrelevant to the listener
and the story “never seems to end,” (O’Brien 72). Many times when telling a story, a soldier
forgets the original point of the story. O’Brien portrays the loss of truth while telling stories by
stating, “In war you lose your sense of definite,” (78). The inconsistency of the war takes a large
toll on the mind and creates the inability to recall what is definitely true, which affects and alters
the truth in war stories.
Guilt also plays a major role while telling war stories. O’Brien introduces the idea that
“You can tell a true war story if it embarrasses you” (66). Throughout the novel there are times
when a soldier feels ashamed of his choices and decisions while at war. Thoughts of what should
have been done race through his mind. When retelling their experiences, the possibility that
soldiers are not telling the whole truth is extremely high. Tim O’Brien feels extreme guilt after
killing a young Vietnamese soldier, who he considers innocent. While retelling war stories to his
daughter he looks back to when he kills a man and admits, “It was a difficult moment, but I did
what seemed right,” which was to lie about his experience (125). Soldiers are usually affected by
the guilt of their actions long after a war is over. There are many times where they “wanted to
confess” to their mistakes, but they do not formulate the courage to (169). The truth gets lost
because of the great remorse a soldier may feel in regards to the war. Reflecting on these
memories brings pain to both a soldier’s heart and mind. Soldiers prefer fiction over reality when
it is too hard to admit to the truth.
Connecting with the listener is vital while telling war stories. However, truth can be lost
while trying to accomplish this. O’Brien states that “A true war story, if truly told, makes the
stomach believe,” (74). This statement portrays how it may become necessary to exaggerate in
order to convey the right emotions that are felt while on the battlefield. A soldier tells a story the
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way he believes it should be told, disregarding the consequences of telling lies. Sanders’ opinion
on war stories is that one should “Get the hell out of the way and let it tell itself” (101).
However, other soldiers’ experiences show that letting a story tell exactly what happens does not
always create a connection with the audience. When a soldier tells a war story, he tries his best to
paint the perfect picture for the listener. Throughout the novel O’Brien includes various
descriptions of different battles and deaths, which create vivid imagery for the audience.
However, at times these descriptions seem farfetched and it is never affirmed that they are true.
Despite this, the audience is still able to appreciate these descriptions because it allows them to
get a sense of what the war is like. A true war story is difficult to tell because the truth is altered
at times for the sake of a successful war story.
Many different memories spring up in soldiers’ minds while recalling the various
experiences of the war. However, the memories often get muddled because of the chaotic state of
the war. Trying to remember experiences based on accuracy is difficult for all soldiers. Soldiers
may include fictional parts to their stories if it allows them to convey their experiences of war.
As O’Brien confesses, “I invented my own dreams” he portrays that soldiers tell the stories
based on their own beliefs (230). Therefore, a war stories will never have a real truth as long as
more than one soldier tells his experience. A true war story is difficult to tell because the real
truth is not what is important. What is important is truly understanding how the soldier feels and
what the conditions of the war is like.