It is very difficult to imagine myself as part of Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’ unit in Vietnam, and there are so many things I think that I would like to have with me if I were in such a situation. However, considering the limited amount of space with which these soldiers had to carry their lives with them, I narrowed my list of items.
I guess it’s kind of a given that I would like to possess the means to protect myself, most likely in the form of ammunition. I would also need provisions to sustain myself, such as food, water, a blanket, and a source of fire. Other than these understood basics, there are a few other items that I think would be necessary for me to have if I were a part of Cross’ unit.
First and foremost, I would bring my Bible. As a Christian, my faith is one of the most important things in my life, and I feel that the strength that I would receive from daily Scripture reading would be even more important in a situation similar to Jimmy Cross’. I would also bring pictures of my family and close friends. Although O’Brien’s story showed what can happen when a soldier is too concerned with what is happening back in the United States, I don’t think that I could get through a traumatic experience such as being at war without some sort of piece of home, in particular reminders of my family and other people that love and are supporting me. Lastly, I would bring a journal to document my thoughts and major occurrences during my time away from home. Not only would this allow me to look back and reflect on my experiences later, but it would also serve as a place to put down my private thoughts and feelings that I might not want to share with anyone else. O’Brien explained that many of the men in his unit were ‘acting.’ They would say that they were not scared or that watching their comrades die didn’t effect their emotions, but he knew that things like that definitely did, and having a place to reflect on those kinds of experiences would be helpful.
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