Journal 14

 To think what I would carry if I were a typical grunt in the Vietnam war is an overwhelming thought. O'Brien constantly reiterated the weight the items described and all i could think was to carry as little as possible. But one thing I couldn't image going off to war without is my necklace with a cross on it. It's more than just a symbol of my faith, it has protected me since I have worn it. When I was younger, I got in a car accident and landed upside down landing in between a tree and a electrical box. Thank god it was literally  no more than 500 feet from a fire station and the first one on the scene mentioned my necklace as it was hanging out of my shirt, and since then I knew it was my guardian angel. Taking that will be like another bullet proof vest for me, offering that layer of protection, mostly for mind and soul. As that seems to be the biggest enemy of the soldier, they begin to lose their minds in a sense as they are dragged through this war and they each had something to hold to in order to keep their sanity. So my necklace would be my token of hope and my little piece of home if I were to be sent off to Vietnam.