Podcast
Questions and Answers
What did Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carry from Martha?
What did Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carry from Martha?
Who was Martha?
Who was Martha?
A junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey.
How did Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feel about Martha's letters?
How did Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feel about Martha's letters?
What were 'The Necessities' that soldiers carried?
What were 'The Necessities' that soldiers carried?
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What did Henry Dobbins carry?
What did Henry Dobbins carry?
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What was Dave Jensen known for carrying?
What was Dave Jensen known for carrying?
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What did Ted Lavender carry until he was shot?
What did Ted Lavender carry until he was shot?
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The steel helmets carried by the soldiers weighed ____ pounds.
The steel helmets carried by the soldiers weighed ____ pounds.
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What was Mitchell Sanders' role?
What was Mitchell Sanders' role?
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What was the significance of the thumb that Norman Bowker carried?
What was the significance of the thumb that Norman Bowker carried?
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What did Rat Kiley carry as a medic?
What did Rat Kiley carry as a medic?
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What did Kiowa carry with him?
What did Kiowa carry with him?
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What was standard operating procedure for soldiers regarding protection from mines?
What was standard operating procedure for soldiers regarding protection from mines?
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What did soldiers carry during cold monsoon nights?
What did soldiers carry during cold monsoon nights?
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To carry something was to ____ it.
To carry something was to ____ it.
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What did the riflemen carry?
What did the riflemen carry?
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What was the description of Tom Lavender's death according to Kiowa?
What was the description of Tom Lavender's death according to Kiowa?
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What did Lee Strunk carry as a weapon of last resort?
What did Lee Strunk carry as a weapon of last resort?
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What items did soldiers carry on missions to the mountains?
What items did soldiers carry on missions to the mountains?
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What peculiar items did soldiers carry on ambush or night missions?
What peculiar items did soldiers carry on ambush or night missions?
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What was the mission in mid-April?
What was the mission in mid-April?
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What happened on April 16 with Lee Strunk?
What happened on April 16 with Lee Strunk?
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Study Notes
Lieutenant Jimmy Cross
- Carried letters from Martha, a girl he loved, which were kept folded in plastic.
- Imagined romantic camping trips in the White Mountains, longing for her love.
- Held two photographs of Martha and a good-luck pebble she gifted him.
- As platoon leader, carried essential items like a.45-caliber pistol, maps, and binoculars, totalling a significant weight.
Martha
- A junior English major at Mount Sebastian College, New Jersey.
- Mentioned the war minimally, emphasizing Jimmy's safety instead.
Martha's Letters
- Signed with "Love, Martha," but lacked genuine affection, as understood by Cross.
- Contained personal tokens that reflected Martha's true feelings, like the pebble she found.
The Necessities
- Carried various items essential for survival and comfort, including can openers, cigarettes, and rations, weighing roughly 15-20 pounds.
Henry Dobbins
- A large soldier who carried extra rations, especially fond of canned peaches.
- Equipped with an M-60 machine gun and carried substantial ammunition.
Dave Jensen
- Focused on hygiene, carrying dental supplies and socks to prevent trench foot.
- Also carried a rabbit's foot as a charm for good luck.
Ted Lavender
- Lived with fear and relied on tranquilizers for coping until his death in Than-Khe.
- Carried premium dope, earplugs for explosions, and was wrapped in his poncho after dying.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Each soldier carried a steel helmet weighing 5 pounds as a standard practice.
Mitchell Sanders
- The Radio Telephone Operator (RTO) who carried a heavy PRC-25 radio and brass knuckles for self-defense.
Norman Bowker
- A gentle person who carried a diary and a thumb presented by Mitchell Sanders as a memento.
Rat Kiley
- The medic who carried a canvas satchel filled with medical supplies and comic books, totaling 20 pounds.
Kiowa
- A devoted Baptist who carried a New Testament given by his father and personal beliefs that influenced his perspective on life.
Bomb-Proofing Measures
- Each soldier carried flak jackets and large compress bandages for protection against potential injuries during operations.
Additional Gear
- Carried ponchos for inclement weather, and various odds and ends during missions, like Kiowa's moccasins for quiet movement.
Tom Lavender's Death
- Described by Kiowa as a sudden and ungraceful fall, contrasting with cinematic depictions of death.
Lee Strunk
- Carried a slingshot for emergencies, denoting both practicality and humor during the war.
Mission Parameters
- Specific missions required unique gear, including mosquito netting and tarps, while ambush missions involved carrying personal items for comfort and superstition.
Mid-April Encounter
- The mission involved locating and destroying tunnel complexes, marking a critical point in their deployment.
Key Incident on April 16
- Lee Strunk narrowly escaped a dangerous situation, while Ted Lavender was fatally shot during a moment of vulnerability.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the characters and themes from Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried'. This quiz will explore Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, his love for Martha, and the emotional weight of their letters amidst the backdrop of war. Dive into the complexities of memory, longing, and the burdens carried by soldiers.
