Masculinity In The Things They Carried

The United States government’s involvement in the Vietnam war was their way to try to prevent the spread of a communist government from taking over south Vietnam. This was known as a “containment war”. They wanted to fight this war to stop the spread of communism. The war started in 1955 and lasted until the fall of Saigon in April 1975. The Things They Carried tells the stories from soldiers point of view and others experiences. Tim O’Brien, Jimmy Cross, and Kiowa were just a few of the men that were in the Alpha company. O’Brien, Tim, and Kiowa had some very cowardice and very courageous moments throughout their time in Vietnam. Some moments tested their masculinity and even their will of wanting to survive to make it home to their friends and family. The men would try to do anything to get out of the draft from blowing their toes off and going as far as saying they were gay so they did not have to go to the war. Tim O’Brien enters the war
he shows how the men that were too immature for war handled being in the worst war in U.S history. He was a sophomore in college signed up for the reserve officers training corps. He had signed up because most of his friends signed up with him. When he was sent to vietnam he had to lead several men into battle. He is unsure in every decision he is faced with. Cross is guilty every time one of his men becomes consumed by the tragedy of war. He is most guilty when his man Ted Lavender is consumed. Right before Lavender was consumed Cross wasn't thinking about the war he was thinking about this girl from back home her name is martha. she sends him pictures, letters back and forth to each other. His thoughts of her interrupted when Lavender gets shot. He gives the impression that he loves martha more than he does his men he is in charge of. Even years later he still can not forgive himself for being distracted when Lavender was consumed by the