Long Halftime Walk Book Report

In post-9/11 America, an increasing gap formed between military personnel and American civilians. 9/11 was and still is a major event in United States history unifying Americans of all types and uniting them as one nation going through tragedy together. As time passed from the inciting event, many civilians forgot why America was participating in a war or even that America was in a war to begin with. Invading Iraq in 2003, signifying the start of the Iraq War, was not to avenge the attacks on 9/11. The Iraq War was also known as the War on Terrorism and allowed America to take a stance against terroristic groups such as Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s supposed connection with them as a strong government figure. At the start of the war, America strongly supported the invasion of Iraq. During the first couple years of war, the gap between the military
In Fountain’s novel, Billy walks around the stadium before and during the Cowboy’s football game, many people thank him and call him and his fellow soldiers heroes. Billy, as a very analytical and thoughtful individual, understands that most of these people do not know what exactly they are thanking Billy for. He does not see himself as a hero and is confused as to why others view him as one. All he has done in combat is lived, and he does not see that as enough to qualify him as a hero. Billy’s family and his love interest, Faison, seem to see the war as a success because he made it home alive. Their opinions on the war quickly change when they learn that he is redeploying immediately. Just like real families of American soldiers, they felt the war was worth fighting when it began in 2003, but it reached a point where it mattered more to bring home the men and women fighting and let them return to their