"The Things They Carried"

As I skimmed through the first few lines of everyone's posts for this story, I was a little surprised. I wasn't expecting the positive responses that this story received. I enjoyed Tim O'Brien's writing style and his ability to express his feelings about the Vietnam War, but I became increasingly depressed as the story progressed.
Perhaps it is because O'Brien himself fought in Vietnam that I was so affected by this story. I am assuming that much of the tone of his piece reflects his own feelings toward his time as a soldier, although online it says that he maintains that this piece is truly a work of fiction. However, for me, the message of the certainty of death that is present in this story can only stem from O'Brien's own experiences in war. Emotions like the ones found in "The Things They Carried" cannot, in my opinion, be fabricated. I believe that O'Brien truly felt the hardships and depression that his characters do in his story, or that he at least witnessed them within his comrades first hand. Of course, I could be reading too much into the story, but I guess that's why this piece affected me so dramatically.
On a lighter note, I truly enjoyed the way in which the author lists the items that the men carry as a sort of narrative to which the sub-stories of the piece are linked. I found it comforting to know that, even as soldiers, each man in our military is an individual with sweethearts, families, items of comfort, and even vices of his own. I felt so much closer to these characters just from the descriptions used to describe their most prized possessions.
Lastly, I have to say that this short story did a great job of confirming my personal belief that although war is a necessary evil, it is a horrific experience for all involved and should be avoided at all costs. (The first part of that statement is simply my own belief and is nowhere stated in the story). I felt that O'Brien wanted to bring the horrors of his time in Vietnam home to the American people through literature, and I would say that he does an affective job. I will continue to support our troops simply for the reason that they are the only things protecting my freedom as an American, but stories like this will continue to remind me just how much our fighting men and women ultimately forsake on my behalf.