The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

The Things They Carried  by Tim O'Brien, I found this book by accident. While teaching summer school a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the 11th gr. American Lit. teacher was using this book in his class.  I found a copy of the book tucked away on a shelf in the store room. I really wasn't certain what this book was about because the teacher was giving back ground information to the students. Then I realized the students in this class really have no idea about Vietnam. Even I really had no knowledge of the 'conflict'. I was just a junior high school student in 1968 and when I was in high school history class I can barely remember the class let alone know if Vietnam was even mentioned. How sad! Is it taught today in some capacity, I don't know. When I think of Iraq and Afghanistan will these 'conflicts' or wars be mentioned in our history books? Will students know of them? I feel we can't learn from the past if we don't teach about the past. I have had students in class who don't even know about 9/11. These students were barely a twinkle in their parents eyes. These 'conflicts' need to be opened for discussion. 

Anyway back to the book The Things They Carried , I am glad I found this book.  At first I thought is was a group of short stories about each of the members of this platoon or company. You can see I am not knowledgable on military ways. This book is about the items they carried with them from home, keepsakes from family, pictures, all kinds of items some were even good luck charms. The Vietnam conflict wasn't  discussed when I was in school. I do remember sending care packages to my cousin Joey, I remember sending socks, kool-aide, and all kinds of things. I still have the pictures he sent back of himself with bullet belts(?) crisscrossed over his chest. I know he came home safe and sound but after that I don't know what his future held for him.  In this book it brought to life the Vietnam Conflict. It back memories of the news programs with body counts and draft card numbers being listed with Walter Conkrite. I remember the protest marches being shown on TV and the Kent State issue. I remember the massacre of a village and soldiers being tried for killing the villagers. I am not certain of the names.

There are times when tears just came as I read the book from being frightened as the soliders were, because a friend was killed, because a letter had to be sent home telling parents how brave and soldier like their son was or just because I needed to relive the tension from reading about the guys in the book. As back in the 1960's and today young guys are being sent to a place knowing they maybe the guy that isn't coming home safe and sound.  Knowing the guys they are fighting aginst aren't using the same international rules of war. Oh. God I can't imagine being so scared, not getting a good day or nights rest.  But I am proud of guys who did and do go to fight to defend our democratic ways.

If you were just a young child through the 60's and 70's, pick up a copy of The Things They Carried, it might help make sense of the Vietnam Conflict or was it a war? Whats the difference!  It brings to life what  day to day was like for these soldiers.  Possibly the next time you see a soldier you will say 'THANK YOU', I do.

I was going to donate this copy to the local public library, but I decided not to and on my next trip in to Washington,D C, I live less then an hour away.  I will leave it by the Vietnam Wall. It is a book for many others to read. 

Shooting the Moon written by Frances O'Roark Dowell

I don't think I have read a book about the Vietnam War ever. I have read a couple dealing with the Iraq War, written by Phil Kiver and a biography by a young guy enlisting in the National Guard but ending up in a engineer company transporting stuff from base to base. The title is Ghosts of War written by Ryan Smithson. Everyone makes decisions based on what they feel is right.

This book Shooting the Moon has a young guy enlisting in the Army before graduating from high school. He is the son of the Colonel in charge of Fort Hood in Texas. The Colonel tries to get the son to void his contract with the military. But true to him self the son TJ goes off to Vietnam. Being an avid amateur photographer TJ is constantly taking rolls of pictures, sending them home to be developed. His sister Jamie learns to develop the film but doesn't show the pictures to her Mom. Then one day the Colonel receives a call, its up to you to find out what happens to TJ and how Jamie keeps his photography alive. Does the title fit the story? Enjoy I did.

This book hits so close to home, it was painful to read the book at times. I remember playing war games as I grew up in the 60's and 70's. I remember gathering with family to send my cousins off to war. There were good times when they all came home safe and bad times when letters got scare.

Almost Forever written by Maria Testa

This simple narrative about a father who goes to war in Vietnam unfolds in spare free verse. Although he reassures his family that a year will pass quickly, and that by the time he returns she will be seven and in the second grade, the girl thinks: "I did not tell Daddy that he was wrong- that second grade was half a hallway and a whole world away from first, -and that one year was forever." The daily rituals hold the mother and her children together: walking to the post office, watching Roger Mudd on the news, nightly prayers. There is tension in the novel when the father's letters stop, but the celebration at the end as he steps off the plane will have readers rejoicing,

This book is written in free verse. A quick read and enjoyable.