Fallen Angels

Words: 618
Pages: 3

Vietnam 1967: gunshots, explosions, screaming, and sights of death recur during the war on communism. The experience of being on the edge from death, just waiting for the time to come when the soldiers fall to the ground knowing it’s all over when the war they cannot ignore is still occurring. Walter Dean Myers book, Fallen Angels, which is about the Vietnam War from the perspective of one soldier named Richie Perry. Coming out of high school with no plan, Richie joins the military only to be shipped off the battlefield of Vietnam: a hurricane that separates life and death. With comrades like Peewee, Lobel, and Johnson, Perry takes on the challenge to serve his country, with the downside of death right at the trigger of a gun. The chaos of …show more content…
The strategy of trying to hold onto the last bit of sanity left inside leaves these men with their own way of keeping in touch for who they still are. The creations and originality of writing letters to home can help soldiers connect to home knowing there is someone there who cares about them. Lieutenant Carroll is someone who is a smart and sympathetic leader, has very well connections with home as well as Richie. In Carroll’s letters to his wife back in Kansas, he talks about opening up a bookstore back home. “He wanted to open a bookstore if she could find a place” (Myers 130). Writing has a way of releasing words that can relieve stress or bring happiness. Another way to cope with the Vietnam War is making jokes or humor. Peewee all through the war recurs on making jokes to be funny. One example is when during an attack, Perry and Peewee were both in a hole dug by a Vietnam soldier. In the hole while trying to be silent as possible, Peewee whispers to Richie saying,”’I got to shit.’ It was funny. It was funny as hell. We both started giggling” (Myers 289). The quote shows on no matter the situation for Peewee, it’s always good to have a good laugh here and there. Even if death is staring at you in the face. Denying reality for what it is helps us get through things that we cannot process through our own head. One way to