This shows how much the objects count in the soldier's mentality towards the war, and how relieved one can be if all traces of the past are physically gone.
Another way to relieve themselves of their fear is the extensive amount of weapons the soldiers carry. If one counts, these soldiers carry enough ammo to literally destroy two or three villages. The problem however is, that even though the soldiers have the illusion of being in power with the superior American firepower, they are still very much at the mercy of the jungle. The GI's took turns in carrying a 28-pound min detector, "which was awkward to handle, often useless because of the shrapnel in the earth, but they carried it anyway, partly for safety, partly for the illusion of safety- (9). The weapons and accessories the soldiers carried show the ways they try to cope with their insecurity of the war, and try to establish the identity of the tough American GI for them to maintain the illusion that they are the side in power.
All of the soldiers have to deal with the pressure and the fear that is al around them in the jungle. Many of them use talismans, lucky charms to give them the illusion of protection. Lieutenant Cross has a pebble from Martha. Kiowa, the Indian, uses moccasins. Lee Strunk carried his slingshot "as a last resort; ammo would never be a problem- (9). Jensen's example is an interesting one, since here the author turns back to the image of childhood innocence. If one is a child, one assumes no responsibilities, thus no dangers. All of these childish objects did not serve to actually physically protect them, but to protect them from their own fear. This was the only way they could cope with the stress of the war and death lurking behind every tree in the dark jungle.
In The Things They Carried' Tim O'Brien does a tremendous job to show the spiritual and mental crisis of the soldiers through imagery and symbols.
