"The Things They Carried," By Tim O'Brien (First Thoughts)

The conundrum that Tim O'Brien creates with Lt. Cross' love for Martha adds a much needed context to this story.  It seems that his love for Martha is what keeps him going in Vietnam.  He seems to look forward to the times when he can just sit and contemplate the time he has and wants to spend with Martha. In my opinion, this aspect of the story is attempting to bring a sense of humanity into a world where humanity is hard to find, beings that they are in the thick of fighting in the Vietnam war.