Fallen Angels

First Draft of Fallen Angels Paper

2/28/11

Cas Woosley

The theme of this story is that War changes soldiers in many different ways. The author made this theme because he wanted the reader to have a realistic idea of war. The soldiers in this story went through so much pain together which made them as close as brothers.

When the squad first arrives in Vietnam, they are oblivious to what war is truly like. But when Jenkins dies everything changes. I believe the author had Jenkins die this early to put the true effect of war on the soldiers. Perry especially was affected by Jenkins death because it was the first person he had seen die, also it happened right in front of him. After this, the realization of war hit the soldiers very hard. “Let us fear death, but not let it live within us” (Pg. 44). This quote expresses the theme by giving an example of the changes a soldier goes through.

 The Vietnam War continued to change the squad throughout the book. At first they complained about everything at the base, such as the food, the weather, the bugs, and each other. But as the story progressed and seeing how real war was they found peace at the base. The author did this to further express the changes they were experiencing. The soldiers always talked about how the war was going to be over soon, but as more time and more firefights passed they realized it might never end. I believe the author had the characters in the story do this to show how war seems never ending.