"How to Tell a True War Story" Review

Told from a third person’s perspective “How to Tell a True War Story” seems to focus on the death of a friend and good times they had together during the Vietnam War. It begins with an absolute statement that the story is true then a letter is sent to a relative of the deceased that receives no reply. It goes on to tell us the story of war and all the complexities it holds. The author points out numerous times that real war stories have no moral or life lesson like those in novels or movies even though we’d like them to. The narrator seems to be reminiscing throughout the story while still trying to make the point that war stories are almost never what you expect or even want to hear.
The story focuses on the subject of war it mentions the horrifying beauty and tragic wonder of it. The author uses the statement that real war stories have no moral leading up to his description. He states, “War is hell, but that's not the half of it, because war is mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love.” You can feel this while reading the story the complexity of something that seems so simple to describe.
The story is set during the Vietnam War and it is being told by a narrator who seems to be participating in the war as well. His tone is very matter of fact and very casual giving the sense that he is talking to a friend it seems to be almost humorous until you think about it.
The story hones in on the friendship between Curt Lemon and Rat two young men forced to participate in a war they don’t seem to have a real interest in, and the tragic death of Curt Lemon. The thread of friendship winds throughout this story, it is present in the way the narrator describes the games and how the characters playfully use the words “mother fucker” to describe each other.
After the death, however, things take a turn and we see the anguish Rat faces due to the death of his best friend, as he kills a baby water