And The Friendship Only Lasted A Few Seconds

Not many people in society can empathize with those who have been in a war and have experienced war firsthand. Society is unaware that many individuals are taken away from their families to risk their lives serving in the war. Because of this, families are left to wonder if they will ever get to see their sons and daughters again. In a war, young men are taken away from their loved ones without a promise that they will get to see them again. The survivors come back with frightening memories of their traumatic experiences. Although some would argue that war affects families the most, Tim O’Brien and Kenneth W. Bagby are able to convey the idea that war can negatively impact one’s self by causing this person long lasting emotional damage.

For example, in the last line of all four stanzas, the author writes, “And the friendship only lasted a few seconds” (Adams 18-19). By repeating this phrase, Adams is able to emphasize how quick her friendship with one of the soldiers lasts. Through the use of repetition, she highlights the war’s effect on her and the relationship she forms in the war. The author is able to demonstrate that war causes her to never forget about the soldier’s service and that he dies right before her. In addition, Lily Lee Adams uses dialogue to help the readers visualize the war’s distressful effects on an individual. She states, “And he told me/”I don’t believe this/I’m dying for nothing.”/Then he died/Again, the friendship/Only lasted a few seconds” (Adams 20-25). Adams’s use of dialogue portrays an image in the reader’s mind of the soldier telling the nurse that he can not believe he is dying for nothing because he will not be remembered for his service. To further elaborate, the reader is able to envision that the soldier is dying a miserable death since he is dying in vain. Before his death, the soldier becomes hopeless when he realizes that no one will remember his contribution to protecting the people that will never appreciate or remember

Bagby, the author utilizes the literary device, imagery, to illustrate the fact that he will never be able to forget the severity of the war and the fact that fighting in the war causes him to struggle to keep his sanity due to the terrifying realities he faces. For instance, Bagby writes, “I will never be the same though, never, never, never. If I have to go into battle again, if I am not killed, I will come out insane... The friends I lost and the many bodies I carried back to the helicopters to be lifted out, I will never forget” (Bagby 1). In this passage, Kenneth W. Bagby wrote to his parents that he was afraid of having to go into battle again because felt he would go insane. By using descriptive language, the author is able to appeal the the reader’s sense of fear and helps the reader visualize Bagby carrying soldiers that are injured or deceased to be taken out. With this in mind, the readers can see that war is not an event that Bagby is able to let go of because what he experienced was so horrifying that it will leave a permanent burden on his shoulders. Moreover, Bagby writes “ I got to know this boy well, and he was my best friend. His name was Dan Davis. On Monday morning, the 15th of November, he died in my arms of two bullet wounds in the chest” (Bagby 1). In this quote, Kenneth W. Bagby described the death of his best friend, Dan Davis, which he met on the ship to Vietnam. By being specific about how Dan