Chapter 6: Friends

What was the pact that Dave Jensen & Lee Strunk made together?

• Ever since Lee Strunk broke his nose as a truce for breaking Dave Jensen's nose, the two have been learning to trust each other. Even so that they made a pact with one another where Tim recalls the whole event, “They made a pact that if one of them should ever get totally fucked up- a wheelchair wound- the other guy would automatically find a way to end it" (O’Brien 62). The two even went as far as putting it on a paper, signing their names, and asking the some of the soldiers around them to become witnesses. 

What was Lee afraid of when he saw Jensen, and what did he make him promise?

• When Lee saw Jensen, he was afraid because he thought Jensen might've harmed or even killed him especially in the position he was in after losing a leg as he states, “‘Oh Jesus,’ he said, and moaned, and tried to slide away and said, ‘Jesus, man, don't kill me’" (O’Brien 63). Lee then made Jensen promise, and even swear, that he wouldn't kill him. In response, Jensen swore to Lee's proposition as he promised. 

The phrase that inspires these two chapters is normally characterized as “friends and enemies.” Why does O’Brien (the author) reverse this traditional order when sequencing these chapters?

• O’Brien decided to reverse this traditional order when sequencing these chapters as Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen started off as enemies, due to the fight over the jackknife and the tragic events that followed. Then, they became somewhat of friends after making a pact with each other and Lee making Jensen promise not to kill him. Generally, these two chapters are done in chronological order of their relationship. 

Using both chapters “Enemies” and “Friends,” explain how war distorts the normal social codes.

• War can most definitely distort normal social codes. The relationship between Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen could be an example, particularly Dave throughout all the events that occured in connection to Lee. War has the habit of causing individuals to go insane, where some might think their peers or even friends might want to injure/kill them. Specifically, in the chapter “Enemies”, Dave goes paranoid as he thinks Lee is going to get him back for breaking his nose; Dave even went as far as breaking his own nose to make sure they were even. It can generally be said that if someone were to break another person’s nose, he or she wouldn’t break his or her own nose back. In addition, they shouldn’t even bother with childish fights that involve items such as a jackknife in the middle of the war; perhaps this is done to avoid reality that is in front of them and distract their minds instead. After the whole incident about the jackknife took place, Lee and Dave made a pact to kill the other if he was severely injured in the chapter “Friends”. Tim mentions tragedy struck Lee as he states, “Lee Strunk stepped on a rigged mortar round. It took off his right leg at the knee” (O’Brien 62). Then, Lee made Dave promise not to kill him when his bottom half was brutally damaged. Even though they had a pact, Lee didn’t want him to kill him as he wanted to pass away on his own terms. Even so, a person wouldn’t ask their friend to kill him or her if he or she was in a severe condition as there are hospitals or medical advancements that could help put the person in a better position. Yet, in relation to the war, it’s different for these soldiers as these items aren’t readily available to them. Life can be so valuable to them as it can just flash before one’s eyes; however, some people want to make all the pain go away and take death as the “easier” way out. Some may even not make it out alive, and they know that, which allows them to believe it’s better to have a faster means of dying than letting whatever it may be take them away in a slow, painful manner. Even if this isn’t seen in Lee’s death, this occurs to many soldiers as well as the paranoia carried by the fear of dying due to a friend or just in general; Lee and Dave still made that pact to begin with, which can be quite common in a setting like a war. 

What is the irony of this chapter’s title?

• Just like the last chapter, this chapter’s title also carries some irony. After Lee was carried away on the chopper, there’s a mention that they found out he died as Tim recalls, “Later we heard that Strunk died somewhere over Chu Lai” (O’Brien 63). Even though Lee and Dave are friends, Dave was pleased when he heard Lee was dead as it relieved him of “an enormous weight” (O’Brien 63). When a person’s friend has passed away, he or she normally grieves for that friend. That is not the case with Dave towards Lee’s death as he’s rather satisfied with the outcome. This goes to show that some friendships made during the war aren’t actual “true” friendships, yet these relationships are used for benefits; this mutualistic relationship is used more in terms of survival and sometimes competition. With their friendship in mind, Dave was the one who survived; some may think he did as he was more paranoid and aware or even more “fit” compared to Lee. 

Reflection:

The last chapter, “Enemies”, and this chapter showcase how relationships are developed between soldiers especially considering the effects of war; this time around it shows a change from enemies to friends between Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen.  Although there are genuine friendships that could arise out of the war, the one Dave and Lee have is mainly based on survival and ideas on a quick death versus letting the body deteriorate on its own to which a pact was formed. After becoming severely injured, death quickly becomes a possibility for Lee; however, he doesn’t want to remain true to the pact and wants to live on instead of being killed by Dave. Even though the idea of just getting it over with may initially seem as a better way out, in a life or death situation, a person tends to see and value life for what it is, which is seen in Lee’s situation. His will to live overthrows the pact he made with Dave, which Dave respects his wishes and doesn’t actually kill him. Generally, this whole event could make the audience wonder what would happen if he did actually stand by the pact or if Lee actually wanted Dave to kill him; it could also allow the reader to think how a similar situation would affect different kinds of friendships, other than the one Dave and Lee developed in this as well as the last chapter.