The things they carried

In the first chapter O'Brien tells us the material things the men carried during the war as well as the emotional bagage they had. among the material things were weapons, food, bug spray, and other essentials to war life. Yet the men also carry things that have significance to themselves such as pictures, pantie-hoes, a pebble, letters, ect. each of these items have a story behind them and connect the soldiers to the lives they once led at home and the men they actually are. They also carry the responsibility of protecting each other. They carry the constant fear of death and the fear of cowardice. They carry dreams and hope for their lives when the war is over. I thought the first chapter was a good introduction of all of the things these men had to deal with. This chapter allows the author to flow into the meaning of the things they carried and the story behind it all.