Jimmy Cross In O Brien's The Things They Carried

O'Brien's The Things They Carried describes the many different things soldiers carried during the war. Of course they would carry items they would need to survive but not only that, they would also carry personal items. Some of the things the soldiers would carry were a little odd but would mean something to them. Ranging from Henry Dobbins' girlfriend's pantyhose to Mitchell Sanders' condoms, the unit was filled with bizarre articles that held sentimental feeling. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, however, restricted his personal belongings to pictures and letters from Martha. As a leader Jimmy Cross would carry a compass, maps, code books, binoculars, and a pistol. He also carried a strobe light but most importantly, the responsibility for the lives of his men. Lieutenant Cross would try to treat his men as individuals but at times he just couldn't remember their names.
He thought as a consequence for him loving Martha more than his men, Ted Lavender had died. The morning after Lavender died, Lieutenant Cross burned Martha's letters and the two photographs. He believe the gesture was stupid but also sentimental. He realized he couldn't burn the blame, that Lavender was dead. Even though the letters were burned they were still in his head, he could still picture Martha playing volleyball. He then decided he hated her. Love, but still hated. I guess he loved her even if he hated her.

To conclude, there were people like Henry Dobbins who carried his girlfriend's pantyhose or Michelle Sanders who carried condoms. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross who carried less odd things like letters, photographs and a small pebble. Some things they carried were unusual but to them it could have been the most normal thing. They could have carried whatever they wanted from the most unnatural thing to the most logical item. At the end of the day it was after all ‘the things they