Analysis Of If I Die In A Combat Zone, Box Me Home By Tim O Brien

“If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home” is a novel written by Tim O’Brien, featuring himself as the lead character. In this book, the reader is walked through his time serving as a foot solider in the Army during the Vietnam War. O’Brien uses a style of storytelling that includes multiple flashbacks to build a strong sense of character throughout the novel. The main theme throughout this novel is courage, and how everyone views it slightly different. Our main character is faced with the harsh realities of war and must decide for himself what he thinks courage truly is throughout his time serving.
The beginning of the story jumps right into the front lines of battle and the reader is introduced to O’Brien while chatting with

Although, throughout the novel, the reader can still sense that O’Brien is not comfortable with the idea of war—as he isn’t completely positive as to why they are fighting there. He knows the mission, and he understands the things that are needed and required from him as a soldier. He doesn’t quite understand, morally, why some of the men there thrive off of it. This feeling is showcased when we see on page 127 that he discusses the war as such: “It is not a war fought for territory, nor for pieces of land that will be won and held. It is not a war to win the hearts of the Vietnamese nationals… land is not one and hearts are at best left indifferent.” Fast forward and the reader is introduced to many characters along the way that build the story line well. O’Brien sets an interesting tone when he discusses the different kinds of bombs used by the Vietnamese in this war. He talks about them so nonchalantly, “with a funny laugh, flippantly, with a chuckle” (O’Brien, 127). In doing this, he shows the reader just how they had to view it. They had to make light of it, or they would have been too terrified. Sometimes, it was necessary for them to psych themselves out. This attitude is present throughout the whole novel. O’Brien also adds a bit of comic relief in some of the heavier scenes in this storyline. Towards the end of the book, when O’Brien is wanting to get a “rear”

The book refers to them often dealing with land mines and hidden booby-traps. Booby-trap is defined as a “hidden bomb or mine so placed that it will be set off by an unsuspecting person through such means as moving an apparently harmless object” (“Booby-Trap). These types of warfare were dangerous and took many lives of American and Vietnamese