Modern psychological research has found that people demonstrate an increased liking for 'hostile' humor following uncontrollable experiences" (Alex Watson).
This story also goes into a lot of depth of how much the soldiers carried. He not only mentions the equipment the soldiers carry but how they carried each other. "They carried infections, diseases, Purple Hearts, and plastic cards imprinted with the Code of Conduct. They also carried the land itself – Vietnam, the place, the soil – a powdery orange – red dust that covered their boots and fatigues of their faces" (O'Brien 1008). The day that Ted Lavender died was a vicious day for the soldiers, especially for Lt. Cross. While Lt. Cross was checking out holes, looking for signs of threat or the enemy, Ted Lavender went to the bathroom. In the hole, Lt. Cross tried his hardest to focus on the war, but his urges to know what his sweet loving Martha was doing caused him to daydream. "Psychological escape techniques are ways that soldiers leave the places they currently are located to be in places they would rather be. Psychological escape techniques are basically daydreams, except in war, daydreams can get people killed. However, despite the risks, soldiers still daydream to cope with the stress of war" (ShujaHonors10). As Lavender finished his business and the other soldiers were settling down to rest, a bullet came from behind, killing Ted Lavender. Killing is inevitable during the war, but Lt. Cross still felt like the death of Ted Lavender was his fault. "He felt shame. He hated himself. He loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war" (O'Brien 1009). People need a period of time after death to grieve. However, soldiers do not receive that, they have to pack everything and keep moving to make ensure their safety.
