The background of the book RifleMan Dodd by C.S Foster takes place in the Napoleonic Wars. It 's about this English RifleMan who finds himself behind enemy lines of the French when his regiment was ordered to retreat. He attempts to turn back and catch up with his unit however French patrols cut off his route. the book goes into the details of Dodd 's journey within the now controlled French territory and how he finally managed to reunite with his regiment. Dodd 's bravery and commitment to carry out his duty with little promise of hope to survive was inspirational. To continue the fight in the case of extreme adversity is what most likely landed Foster 's book on the Commandants reading list. For it highlights all the traits a Marine should look for and carry with them. Dodd becomes surrounded by the French as they advanced into Portugal. While he must focus on not only survival, but also aiding his allies from further assaults by continuing his duty as a rifleman. Struggles consisting of enemy troops, locals, and starvation, plagued Dodd while putting together a plan to go around the enemy to rejoin his ranks. Dodd also feared the British held territory may be knocked down to a final defense. So he chose to engage the …show more content…
Reading through Dodd’s tale and how he comes to terms that he will likely not survive but still marches is admirable. The story reveals how his bravery, problem solving capabilities, and determination played a key role to overcoming hardships. Riddled in and out of the book are moral decisions that play on the readers emotions and own ethic 's. Such as feeding the local boy while his own rations are meager. I believe Dodd to be a content person however his commitment to duty makes him maintain a more rigid shell. To further relate to Dodd, the sense of belonging he experiences towards the end of the book with his comrades is a feeling I myself have at home. To be amoungst your own after periods of isolation or solidarity is a refreshing
I chose the book Black Hearts by Jim Frederick because it was recommended to me by First Lieutenant Smaldone. He had to read it as course material during his training at TBS (The Basic School). Officers go to TBS following Officer Candidate School where newly commissioned officers learn to lead and inspire fellow Marines. Black Hearts is a non-fiction story about the 502nd Infantry Regiment’s deployment to a region south of Baghdad, Iraq and it’s breakdown of leadership, morale, and discipline. The Unit was known as “The Black Heart Brigade.”
Like what you ate for breakfast and who ranked up you think what soldiers go through nowadays and why they act so different when they come back because of how much war changes you. This depiction of war that the writer Walter Dean Myers shows us everything these soldiers go through and how it changes a man you could be a nonviolent man and never believe in god but once you're thrown in war your whole life will be
War is a very psychologically traumatizing event. In Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things They Carried, he highlights the harrowing effects war has on a person’s psyche. Characters such as Norman Bowker, Tim O’Brien, and Jimmy Cross are deeply affected by war, but how they deal with their guilt is completely different. Norman Bowker’s dealing with his war guilt is highlighted in “Speaking of Courage”. This story displays Bowker’s dealings after the war in his town and how he deals with guilt over his friend, Kiowa’s death.
This draws meaning about the war from their relationships. O’Brien addresses shame and storytelling and memory of the people that do not know about what really happens in war. The chapter, “ In The Field,” readers can view that the soldiers carried shame and guilt. The chapter is talking about how three men managed their guilt over
In Tim O’Brien’s book The Things They Carried he brings you into his life leading up to and through fighting in the Vietnam War. In the book he walks you through his journey of physical and personal struggles along with his fellow soldiers’. Throughout the book O’Brien gives you a sense of his own courage and how it evolves over time. Starting out when O’Brien is back in high school and the draft is rapidly approaching, he seems to be feeling very anxious and somewhat scared to be forced to fight. After his senior year in high school, getting ready to go off to Harvard to continue
Men went through so many tasks during the Vietnam War physically and mentally. The beginning chapters focus on training for war and being prepared for the worst. For example, when there is a sergeant in a room with the marines. The sergeant walks to the chalk board and writes “AMBUSHES ARE MURDER AND MURDER IS FUN” (36-37). The
This chapter “The Ghost Soldiers”, showed us how Tim O’Brien and the other soldiers were dealing with the war both physically and psychologically. It also shows us how the Tim O'Brien behaved and felt when he was shot, wounded and had a bacteria infection on his butt and how the war changed the way he thought, and viewed the other soldiers around him. This chapter also contain a lot of psychological lens. From the way Tim O’Brien felt when he was shot and separated from his unit to a new unit to when he wanted revenge on Bobby Jorgenson for almost “killing” him.
He fought a war in Vietnam that he knew nothing about, all he knew was that, “Certain blood was being shed for uncertain reasons” (38). He realized that he put his life on the line for a war that is surrounded in controversy and questions. Through reading The Things They Carried, it was easy to feel connected to the characters; to feel their sorrow, confusion, and pain. O’Briens ability to make his readers feel as though they are actually there in the war zones with him is a unique ability that not every author possess.
How he hated being drafted and how badly he wanted to run away. He tells how he took time to himself to decide whether or not he was going to run away and risk being caught and imprisoned or go join the army and risk dying over in Vietnam. He states at the end, “ I passed through twins with familiar names, through the pine forests and down to the prairie, and then to Vietnam, where I was a soldier, and then home again. I survived, but it's not a happy ending. I was a coward.
Although the soldier he killed was an enemy soldier, instead of vilifying him he was able to humanize the man. O’Brien was able to describe the physical appearance of the soldier and imagine her life before war. The author was able to portray an emotional connection and made the line between friend and enemy almost vanish. This was able to reveal the natural beauty of shared humanity even in the context of war’s horror. O’Brien is able to find the beauty in the midst of this tragic and horrible event.
The Vietnam War in American history exceeds a reputation of being one of the most unpopular, violent, and unnecessary in its time. Although there was a big support basis at the beginning of the war, many soldiers that were drafted or enlisted to fight realized the dangers of the event amongst each other, and had to help each other strive through to make it out alive and hopefully maintain a healthy conscious. During the times of war, relationships in the platoon can be rough, undesirable, and even violent in certain moments, but in reality, soldiers culminate into a brotherhood and family. At some points in war, many soldiers have rough relationships with their comrades.
The author was writing the story “The Things They Carried” expressed so many thoughts and feelings about what the soldiers had faced, they showed their feelings and duties, life or death, and overall fear and dedication. This story shows the theme of the physical and emotional burdens that everyone is going through in the war. By showing his readers what the soldier’s daily thoughts are and how they handle what is going on around them. Tim O’Brien expresses this theme by using characterization, symbolism, and tone continuously. In the story, physical and emotional burdens plagued several characters as they all had baggage weighing them down.
One of the prevailing themes is that of the imminent war and enlistment. The war encroaches and finally dominates the boys lives at Devon. Starting with the boys shoveling snow off of the train tracks, then their friend, Leper, enlists, and finally when troops get permanently stationed at Devon. This story is relatable to teens that are the same age as Gene since they do not constantly think about war but as they get older they start to think more and more about
Kiowa, Ted Lavender, and Jimmy Cross are three very different people who were brought together to fight for a common purpose. They not only carried their own belongings, but each other too. This story shows how war can affect people and tells of the burdens that weigh soldiers down for a
Erich Maria Remarque was a man who had lived through the terrors of war, serving since he was eighteen. His first-hand experience shines through the text in his famous war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, which tells the life of young Paul Bäumer as he serves during World War 1. The book was, and still is, praised to be universal. The blatant show of brutality, and the characters’ questioning of politics and their own self often reaches into the hearts of the readers, regardless of who or where they are. Brutality and images of war are abundant in this book, giving the story a feeling of reality.