Throughout the book he referred to Socrates and other Greek characters. He remembered that Socrates had a chance to escape to Sparta or Crete since he was going to be executed. He finally realized that living anywhere else but Athens would not have been worth it. This reference back to Socrates made Tim think about escaping to Canada to avoid going to the war. His thoughts went as far as exiling himself with no cares. Canada looked better and better to him everyday although it was only a thought.
In basic training, Tim met many men ready to go to war. He also made some good friends, like Erik. They had the same feelings toward the war. Erik did not want to be in the war. He did not want to be in basic training. They both shared thoughts that the war was wrong and should not be going on. To lighten conversations, they talked about authors and novels that they were both interested in. They were buddies in a world of confusion and violence. .
When the basic training was almost over, Erik decided to not continue to combat duty. The new friends would be separated from now on during the war. Tim had decided that he was not going overseas. The idea of going to the actual war was too real. His feelings toward the war grew more negatively. It escalated to more evil and wrongness.
Tim started making real, secretive plans to get to Canada before the departure to go overseas. He had a bus ride to Seattle and then to Vancouver, Canada. He was hoping for a flight to a deserter area to avoid the war. It was set. He was felt excited about escaping the war. At the same time, he talked to the chaplain to try to find a reason why there was a war, and why the United States had to fight in Vietnam. He explained that he was not made for fighting and did not want to shoot anyone in Vietnam. The chaplain was very clear that Tim must go to war and to have faith. This lecture from the chaplain made Tim feel even more expedient of reaching Canada as soon as possible.