Theme One Quotes - “In a few hours, Charlene’s mother would open the front door and see an army chaplain on her porch. Right now, though, she was sleeping or maybe watching TV. Her daughter was dead, she just didn’t know it yet.” (p. 189)
Explanation: This quote backs up my theme: war takes a toll on those involved because of the way it not affects the soldiers, but also the families of the soldiers back home. Matt is thinking this right after his team member is killed in a bombing in Iraq. Many thoughts are going through his head and one of them is the fact that her mom doesn't know yet. Soon enough she will get the terrible news and her heart is just going to be crushed. War definitely affects the soldiers fighting in it but also the people that are close to those soldiers.
“My kid," Francis said. He stared at the picture for a while. "I told my wife…" His voice drifted off. "Have everybody come to the side door. The mailman, the neighbors." Matt had no idea what he was talking about. "When the army comes to your door, to give you the bad news," he said, "they always use the front door. The chaplain, the guy with the letter from the president, they come to the front door." Matt nodded. "So if everybody we know uses the side door, every time the bell rings, she doesn’t have to, you know, imagine the worst.’” (p. 59-60)
Explanation: This quote comes from the book when Matt is talking to his friend Francis, who he met in the hospital. Francis is explaining to Matt how he told his wife to do this so that she wouldn't have to worry about him off at war and what could happen to him out in the field. This supports my theme because of how it shows that the families back home are constantly worried about their loved ones off at war. It also stresses Francis out knowing that his wife is at home, without her husband, constantly worrying about him and his well-being.
Theme Two Quotes - "As he watched Wolf squirt Silly String down the back of Figueroa's shirt, he remembered thinking, this is what war is all about. It wasn't about fighting the enemy. It wasn't about politics or oil or even about terrorists. It was about your buddies; it was about fighting for the guy next to you. And knowing he was fighting for you." (p. 53)
Explanation: When most people think of war they think of guns and fighting and death when in reality, it is just like a up scale version of life. Matt's quote states this perfectly. It is more about your buddies and getting through each day with them right behind you. Just like in life when you have friends and family behind you to face the problems you face, Matt has his buddies.
“He’d told himself that that was what he was fighting for: so Caroline and his mom and Lizzy could go to the mall or watch that show they liked, Gossip Girl, and do whatever they did and not have to worry.” (p. 58)
Explanation: Matt may be at war, or in this case, in the hospital due to war, but his family is still back home. Matt faces many struggles in his experience but he has to overcome these obstacles so that his family back home can live their life and not have a battle to face when they wake up every morning. He is fighting for them, so they can go on with their lives.
Explanation: This quote backs up my theme: war takes a toll on those involved because of the way it not affects the soldiers, but also the families of the soldiers back home. Matt is thinking this right after his team member is killed in a bombing in Iraq. Many thoughts are going through his head and one of them is the fact that her mom doesn't know yet. Soon enough she will get the terrible news and her heart is just going to be crushed. War definitely affects the soldiers fighting in it but also the people that are close to those soldiers.
“My kid," Francis said. He stared at the picture for a while. "I told my wife…" His voice drifted off. "Have everybody come to the side door. The mailman, the neighbors." Matt had no idea what he was talking about. "When the army comes to your door, to give you the bad news," he said, "they always use the front door. The chaplain, the guy with the letter from the president, they come to the front door." Matt nodded. "So if everybody we know uses the side door, every time the bell rings, she doesn’t have to, you know, imagine the worst.’” (p. 59-60)
Explanation: This quote comes from the book when Matt is talking to his friend Francis, who he met in the hospital. Francis is explaining to Matt how he told his wife to do this so that she wouldn't have to worry about him off at war and what could happen to him out in the field. This supports my theme because of how it shows that the families back home are constantly worried about their loved ones off at war. It also stresses Francis out knowing that his wife is at home, without her husband, constantly worrying about him and his well-being.
Theme Two Quotes - "As he watched Wolf squirt Silly String down the back of Figueroa's shirt, he remembered thinking, this is what war is all about. It wasn't about fighting the enemy. It wasn't about politics or oil or even about terrorists. It was about your buddies; it was about fighting for the guy next to you. And knowing he was fighting for you." (p. 53)
Explanation: When most people think of war they think of guns and fighting and death when in reality, it is just like a up scale version of life. Matt's quote states this perfectly. It is more about your buddies and getting through each day with them right behind you. Just like in life when you have friends and family behind you to face the problems you face, Matt has his buddies.
“He’d told himself that that was what he was fighting for: so Caroline and his mom and Lizzy could go to the mall or watch that show they liked, Gossip Girl, and do whatever they did and not have to worry.” (p. 58)
Explanation: Matt may be at war, or in this case, in the hospital due to war, but his family is still back home. Matt faces many struggles in his experience but he has to overcome these obstacles so that his family back home can live their life and not have a battle to face when they wake up every morning. He is fighting for them, so they can go on with their lives.