Harold Krebs In Soldier's Home

In the story Soldier’s Home, one man stood alone without experiencing praise or attention by his town in Oklahoma after battling in a hard fought war to defend the great country of the United States of America. Harold Krebs, a marine sent into war, had experienced brutal and life changing scenes. When Krebs returned home from the war in 1919, the celebration of fighters had already ceased. “By the time Krebs returned to his hometown in Oklahoma, the greeting of heroes was over” (8). At this point, Krebs already felt he was of no worth to his town. He expected to have a warm welcome home but no one seemed to care about his return. However, Krebs didn’t want to face any consequences after what had happened in the war. Therefore, Harold tries to isolate himself from the town and doesn’t go out in public too often. Even though Krebs grew up in a town where everyone knew each other, the circumstances of the war hardened him to the point where he was no longer able to be in relationships with others.

After all that Harold did in the war to keep the country safe, he is wrongfully looked down upon on his arrival back home. “People seemed to think it was rather ridiculous for Krebs to be getting back so late, years after the war was over” (11-12). Harold made great sacrifices for the people in his town, but once he knew that the people thought it was rather ridiculous of him coming back from the war late, his relationship with others suddenly took a downward spiral when they didn’t acknowledge his heroism. “He had been badly, sickeningly frightened all the time. In this way, he lost everything” (30-31). Krebs dealt with arrogant people in the war and he felt like it was happening all over again with the lack of gratitude from his