Johnny Got His Gun starts off in a very intriguing way. The main character, Joe Bonham, describes the ringing of a telephone that no one will answer. He answers the phone and after hanging up he tells his boss that his father has died and he needs to go home. Joe gets a ride home from one of his fellow workers and finds his father dead in his living room. After his fathers dead body is carried out of the house Joe wakes up to silence and darkness. The chain of events that played through his mind had been merely a memory of the day his father died. Throughout much of the novel almost everything that happens is a memory or dream that Joe has.
Joe fades in and out of consciousness during the novel. He recalls memories of minuscule things such as his mothers cooking, along with important events like his moving to Los Angeles. After several memories Joe regains consciousness and realizes that both his arms have been cut off. This brings back the memory of a ring that his girlfriend kareen gave to him before the war. He remembers the times he had with Kareen and cries in his head. In a state of panic Joe flashes through several more memories. Once he cools down he tries to move his legs and realizes that both his legs have been amputated as well. After realizing that he has no legs Joe tries to scream but fines he has no mouth, no tong, and no sense of smell. He is in an English hospital bed completely wrapped in bandages. Shortly after, Joe once again falls unconscious and begins to have more memories about past friends and working experiences. Once he awakes he remembers where he is and that he is all alone. He then resolves that he will occupy his mind with deep thoughts rather than memories of the past that only make him feel worse. .
Joe occupies his mind with thoughts of the war and why he went. Joe realizes that the war had nothing to do with him and feels livid towards then rich men who started the war.
