The Perfect Veteran’s Day Book

I was walking through the Student Union at UNK a few days ago. I was heading to the cafeteria to grab some lunch, but on the ground right by the stairs to the cafeteria there was a table with a number of books on it. Each one was wrapped crudely in cheap wrapping paper and had little descriptive blurbs written on them. It turns out that the woman manning the table was running a fundraiser for a local sorority. For three dollars, I was able to pick out any one of the anonymous books. I ended up randomly selecting “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. Miraculously, I chose a book that I had already read. In this case, though, it was fine. The book is amazing and certainly worth a second visit.

“The Things They Carried” is an enthralling writing. It tells its narrative through many short stories. O’Brien often moves the reader across continents and back and forth through time to try to show the feeling of war. There is a wonderful ebb and flow to it. You feel as though you are a soldier marching through the unforgiving wilderness, sometimes acutely aware of your immediate surroundings, and other times lost in daydreams when the noises of the forest grow silent and all that is heard is the clopping of mud-soaked boots. O’Brien plays this game of ping pong elegantly.

There is one excerpt from the book that I want to look at more closely. Near the beginning of the book, O’Brien retells the story of him receiving his draft notice, and how he planned to flee the country to avoid serving. He battles with the guilt and shame that comes with that possible decision. The fact that the idea even came to his head was detestable. Eventually, he finds himself within yards of the border. He would only need to swim for a minute, and he could escape the duty that was placed on him. Right as he is presented with this situation, he asks the reader a question.

“What would you do?”

This small bit of text is so incredibly powerful. As I was reading it, it felt as though O’Brien was removed from the memory and I was thrust in his place. I did truly ask myself what I would do in that situation. I could feel the waves gently caressing the boat that O’Brien had sailed out on. O’Brien’s skill in writing is on full display during this story. He expertly recreates the situation so vividly that I could immediately see myself within it. I am not sure what decision I would make, but I know that O’Brien’s writing is quality.

Please, if you have not already, or even if you have, read “The Things They Carried.” It is difficult to fully understand the impacts of war, and because of that it is difficult to fully support veterans with the vigor they deserve.