In 1954, the news of the Vietnam War shocked America, but more importantly, it shocked the young men of America who were of age to be selected for the draft. These civilians were made soldiers by random selection, and those chosen received their draft cards in the mail almost instantly. According to Begg, “some men were also forced to go against their will because of the draft, which increased anxiety and stress.” This agonizing draft caused much anxiety to young men in America because they feared the inevitable and unfortunately it sealed the fate for countless terrified men. They had no choice but to leave behind what they had and go overseas to fight for something that did not concern them. Most men left for the war feeling homesick and lonely, prompting many to bring objects from home that held a special place in their hearts. This short excerpt from the novel “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien displays the lives of American soldiers during the Vietnam War and how the objects and experiences that these soldiers carried throughout the war functioned to fulfill wartime needs, provide comfort, and serve as a reminder of their reality, even when they wanted to forget.

Most of the objects carried by American soldiers during the Vietnam War were largely determined by necessity, meaning that these were the items needed for survival. Some of these necessities included “P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water” (Llewellyn). All of these objects may seem strange for an American soldier to bear while traveling through the difficult terrains of another country, but each item has its own intended purpose. For example, dog tags were worn by soldiers to help commanders keep track of their men. If a commander was to come across a dead, unrecognizable soldier, he could identify the soldier from the dog tag around his neck. This allows the military to keep track of their men and accurately notify the family of a soldier’s death. Due to the many jungles and swampy terrains of Vietnam, mosquitos were a big problem for these soldiers as well. Without mosquito repellent, a soldier could obtain a disease from a mosquito bite, which could then lead to illness, and in some cases, even death. C rations and canteens of water were most crucial for the overall well-being and survival of the soldiers. C rations, small cans of food, and two-to-three canteens of water were the soldiers only form of nutrition while in Vietnam. As stated before, some men chose to carry chewing gum, mainly to take their mind off the war that was happening right in front of them because they could not face their reality. Chewing gum was also used by men as a stress reliever, allowing the soldiers to do their job more adequately due to the constant chewing which allowed them to take their mind off of the gunshots fired around them. The equipment men carried varied upon their rank and specialty. Jimmy Cross, the first lieutenant and platoon leader, “carried a compass, maps, code books, binoculars, and a .45-caliber pistol” (Llewellyn). Due to his rank, Jimmy Cross was responsible for the lives of all his men, meaning that he had the most crucial items close to him at all times just in case of an emergency. Each man was supplied a gun to protect himself from an attack. These guns varied from M-60s to M-79s, or whatever was available in Vietnam at the time. While many of these necessities were most crucial to the well-being of the soldiers, the personal items these soldiers carried were even more important to them and to their sanity during the war because of the meaning behind them.

All soldiers carried the essential items for war; however, many men brought special tokens from home to bring them comfort while in Vietnam. Each soldier brought an item specific to his personal life, depending on what brought him comfort. These items signify an important part of the soldier’s personal life that they can hold on to while in combat. By the soldier bringing these significant items with him, he is able to find a little bit of home within all of the madness that war brought upon these men. For example, Jimmy Cross tightly clenched the letters he received from his love, Martha, during the hard times of the war. He used these letters to imagine himself at home enjoying everyday activities with his love. He was often caught daydreaming of what his life with Martha could have been like if he had not been drafted in the war. Jimmy also received a small pebble from Martha in one of her letters. She said she found it on the Jersey Shore in between where the tide and the sand meet. Jimmy began to suck on the pebble, and he imagined it as Martha’s tongue so that he could have a little bit of comfort thinking that she was there too. Many people may find that a bit strange, but given the difficult circumstances, Jimmy did all that he could to put himself at ease. Fellow soldier, Dave Jensen, carried around a toothbrush, dental floss, and several hotel soaps to rid himself of the nasty environment of Vietnam. These items are usually viewed as necessities and not personal items, but Dave Jensen was a germaphobe, therefore he found it most essential for him to be clean at all times. One of the most frightened soldiers, Ted Lavender, carried around tranquilizers to calm himself during stressful situations. Ted not only used tranquilizers to relax, but he also carried around a big bag of dope. During this time, “illicit drugs like marijuana, opium, morphine and heroin were widely available to American soldiers in Vietnam. In some combat units up to 80 percent of men were casual or habitual drug users. The US military did little to combat drug abuse until 1971” (Llewellyn). These drugs were a common coping method used by many soldiers during the Vietnam War because they helped them calm down and be more at ease with their surroundings. While these objects played a critical role in the sanity of the soldiers’ lives during combat, the experiences they faced highly impacted the remainder of the soldiers’ lives following the war. 

Although American soldiers fighting in Vietnam carried their essential war equipment and meaningful items with them throughout the war, the emotional baggage they carried was detrimental to their mental stability during and far after the war. The soldiers for the most part carried themselves with poise and dignity; however, there were times of panic that extremely affected the way in which these soldiers carried themselves. During the war, ambushes were prevalent due to the many mountains and valleys within Vietnam. These ambushes caused extreme panic within the minds of the soldiers as they all hoped and prayed not to die. This mindset was common during Vietnam because “fighting in the jungle and the notion of the unknown enemy had a great influence on soldier’s psychological well-being” (Begg). Due to the harsh environment they had become accustomed to, soldiers began to acquire certain symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and “the term Post Vietnam Syndrome was used to describe returning soldiers with trauma symptoms. This syndrome usually consists of combat related nightmares, anxiety, anger, depression, alcohol and/or drug dependence, and poor responsiveness” (Begg). 

Not only did the gruesome combat cause mental instability, but the condition that America was in when the soldiers returned from war also played an important role in their mental mindset. During the Vietnam War, American soldiers were criticized harshly for their role in murdering innocent women and children. However, what the Americans back home did not know was that some of these women and children were associated with the enemy. The soldiers had no way of knowing whether they could trust Vietnamese civilians or not. This caused panic within the American troops, causing them to eliminate everything and everyone that came in their way. When the soldiers returned home, “disapproval of the war from American citizens was an important environmental factor accounting for veteran’s post war stress. Prior to this time period, veterans coming back from war were viewed as heroes. Vietnam War veterans came back home viewed as murderers. Normally these war heroes were encouraged to talk about their war experiences but in this case they were not and were shunned by a lot of the community” (Begg). The experiences and shameful memories of the Vietnamese War will be forever engraved into these soldier’s minds, causing them to spend the remainder of their lives scared and helpless.

During combat, it is essential for the well-being of the soldiers to carry certain items with them at all times. In addition to these critical items, many men carried with them special items from home. This gave the soldiers a small amount of comfort and hope. They used these objects to remind themselves of what their life was like before the war. However, when the soldiers returned home, their lives typically did not go back to how they were before. Unfortunately, due to the harsh combat these soldiers experienced, these memories are forever engraved into their minds. The harsh criticism from American citizens only worsened the mental stability of these soldiers because they felt neglected from their own people. In “The Things They Carried,” Tim O’Brien displays the lives of American soldiers during Vietnam and how the objects and experiences that these soldiers carried throughout the war affect much more than they had imagined.
