A review by elisabeth888
If I Die in a Combat Zone: Box Me Up and Ship Me Home by Tim O'Brien

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

4.75

This was the first Vietnam War memoir I read and I liked Tim O'Brien's descriptive yet concise style of writing, which ultimately revealed the stupidity, corruption, and the evilness of the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Hearing from a foot soldier's perspective, it was interesting to hear the internal conflicts one faced. Throughout the course of the memoir O'Brien recalls wanting to desert, the desensitized and flippant nature of the soldiers, the insanity of war, the heat of the Vietnam countryside, and the innocent Vietnam civilians caught in the crossfire. One of O'Brien's chapters centered on courage as O'Brien asked himself what courage really meant for a soldier on the battlefield. Overall, I recommend O'Brien's memoir as it delves into complex topics regarding the inhumanity of war, the major blunders of military leadership, and the question of what it means to serve for your country.
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