Conditions

There is a part of this book, and part of the grand scheme of wars, that is overlooked. Not only is war mentally tough, but it is physical, not just the fact that people are getting hit by bullets, shrapnel, etc... But the conditions the soldiers have to survive and endure is excruciating, and critical part of a war. Jarhead represtents a very similar point of veiw with "The Things They Carried". Although both conditions are basically polar opposites, they still are tough areas to survive in. In the novel Jarhead, the soldiers have to sit, and wait for orders in the harsh Arabian Desert. "The oven heat of the Arabian Desert grips my throat...Our days consist of sand and water and sweat and piss...Six times a day we gather for formation and swallow two canteens per man, and between formation, and between formations we injest more water, and we piss and sweat and walk the desert and drink and piss and sweat." (10 and 11). This quote clearly demonstrates that the desert takes a toll on them. And slowly their focus, and usefullness fade, and they may not be ready for battle when it comes around. That is not a good thing.

media type="youtube" key="UE1RVhrc8kc" height="344" width="425" This video just goes to show how vast, and harsh of an enviroment this place is, and how tough it could be to live there.