Enemies and Friends

   I find the dynamic between soldiers really fascinating. The need for some positive human connections when being constantly barraged by others is important. I felt so incredibly attached to Dave Jensen in the beginning. Everyone knows the feeling of being isolated and afraid, but to have that experience in a place where everyone is armed to the teeth and many are already trying to kill you. The extremity of a common experience seems to be a theme in this book used to show the insanity of war.
   The way O'Brien built up Jensen's paranoia also truly expressed the overwhelming tension and anxiety. The irrational nature of his fear is revealed when after Jensen breaks his own nose, Lee Strunk says in a very nonchalant, comical matter that he actually had stolen the knife that had started their fight in the first place. Perception becomes as real as reality in this case. Although these two chapters are not very long, they exemplify the book so far for me. Life at war is so transitory and destructive, that concrete possessions, ideals, or even reality becomes meaningless. Instead they are left only with the heavy, intangible perceptions, relationships, and emotions to carry.