If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Send Me Home
Encyclopedia
If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home (sometimes printed as If I Die In A Combat Zone or incorrectly as If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Send Me Home) is an autobiographical account of Tim O'Brien
's tour of duty
in the Vietnam War
. It was published in 1973 in the United States
by Delacorte and in Great Britain
by Calder and Boyars Ltd. It has subsequently been reprinted by multiple publishers under both titles, most commonly in the latter.
Rather than proceed chronologically, O'Brien takes the reader back to the beginning of his induction into the US Army. The reader learns about the author's home town, Worthington, Minnesota
and to which O'Brien moved when he was 10 years old. We are led through his childhood, playing various army games, and learning about World War II
from returned veterans and the Korean War
which was taking place at the time.
The story of his tour itself continues to unfold while the reader is simultaneously taken through O'Brien's training at Fort Lewis
, Washington, where he acquaints a man of similar situation named Erik. Together, the two decide to engage in a psychological resistance against the government.
After debating over the idea of desertion
, O'Brien arrives in Vietnam in 1969 and spends a week at a base in Chu Lai
(home to the Americal Division
from approximately 1967 until 1971), receiving last-minute training such as mine sweeping
and grenade
throwing as well as the essential do's and don'ts of jungle warfare, before being sent to Landing Zone Gator in Quang Ngai Province
where he is assigned to Alpha company, 5th Battalion of the 46th Infantry
, 198th Infantry Brigade
.
O'Brien describes his time in Alpha Company and the various events that took place during his time there, as well as some of the people he encountered. Among the scenarios O'Brien describes is one about the various mines that are encountered by the infantrymen, and the indiscriminate way that these devices disfigure and maim both combatants and civilians.
Not long after the accidental shelling of a lagoon
village
by the A Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, that Alpha Company was protecting (near an American firebase), O'Brien is offered a job at the rear and is airlifted away from the fighting, where he encounters a rear echelon officer, Major Callicles (battalion executive officer), who deals with the investigation into the My Lai Massacre
committed by the Charlie Company of the same battalion. The memoir ends with O'Brien being flown home.
as possibly "the single greatest piece of work to come out of Vietnam", with equally positive reviews from The Guardian
, Gloria Emerson of the New York Times and was described as a personal account of "aching clarity... A beautiful, painful book." by the New York Times Book Review. Similar reviews were given from The Times
, The Washington Post
, The Sunday Times
, The Financial Times and Time Magazine who cited O'Brien as "Perhaps the best writer about Vietnam".
Tim O'Brien (author)
Tim O'Brien is an American novelist who often writes about his experiences in the Vietnam War and the impact the war had on the American servicemen who fought there...
's tour of duty
Tour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. It was published in 1973 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Delacorte and in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
by Calder and Boyars Ltd. It has subsequently been reprinted by multiple publishers under both titles, most commonly in the latter.
Synopsis
O'Brien takes the reader through a typical day in the life of a soldier in Vietnam. We are briefly introduced to a small number of fellow 'grunts' and the commanding officer of Alpha Company, the rifle company O'Brien was assigned to, one Captain Johansen. (Names and physical characteristics depicted in the book were changed.)Rather than proceed chronologically, O'Brien takes the reader back to the beginning of his induction into the US Army. The reader learns about the author's home town, Worthington, Minnesota
Worthington, Minnesota
Worthington is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,764 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nobles County.The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St...
and to which O'Brien moved when he was 10 years old. We are led through his childhood, playing various army games, and learning about World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from returned veterans and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
which was taking place at the time.
The story of his tour itself continues to unfold while the reader is simultaneously taken through O'Brien's training at Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
, Washington, where he acquaints a man of similar situation named Erik. Together, the two decide to engage in a psychological resistance against the government.
After debating over the idea of desertion
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
, O'Brien arrives in Vietnam in 1969 and spends a week at a base in Chu Lai
Chu Lai
Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành district, Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.-Vietnam War:...
(home to the Americal Division
Americal Division
The 23rd Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Americal Division of the United States Army was formed in May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. In the immediate emergency following Pearl Harbor, the United States had hurriedly sent three individual regiments to defend New Caledonia...
from approximately 1967 until 1971), receiving last-minute training such as mine sweeping
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
and grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
throwing as well as the essential do's and don'ts of jungle warfare, before being sent to Landing Zone Gator in Quang Ngai Province
Quang Ngai Province
Quảng Ngãi is a province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, on the coast of South China Sea. It is located 883 km south of Hanoi and 838 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.-History:...
where he is assigned to Alpha company, 5th Battalion of the 46th Infantry
46th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 46th Infantry Regiment is a unit in the United States Army that served in WWII.-History:During World War II, the 46th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 5th Armored Division...
, 198th Infantry Brigade
198th Infantry Brigade (United States)
The 198th Infantry Brigade, was first formed as part of the United States Army Reserve's 99th Division. It was active from 1967 through 1971 and has been active since 2007 as an Infantry Training Brigade as part of the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.- Vietnam War :During the...
.
O'Brien describes his time in Alpha Company and the various events that took place during his time there, as well as some of the people he encountered. Among the scenarios O'Brien describes is one about the various mines that are encountered by the infantrymen, and the indiscriminate way that these devices disfigure and maim both combatants and civilians.
Not long after the accidental shelling of a lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
by the A Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, that Alpha Company was protecting (near an American firebase), O'Brien is offered a job at the rear and is airlifted away from the fighting, where he encounters a rear echelon officer, Major Callicles (battalion executive officer), who deals with the investigation into the My Lai Massacre
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was the Vietnam War mass murder of 347–504 unarmed civilians in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968, by United States Army soldiers of "Charlie" Company of 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the Americal Division. Most of the victims were women, children , and...
committed by the Charlie Company of the same battalion. The memoir ends with O'Brien being flown home.
Reception
If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home received warm reviews from critics. Observed by the Washington StarWashington Star
The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily afternoon newspaper published in Washington, D.C. between 1852 and 1981. For most of that time, it was the city's newspaper of record, and the longtime home to columnist Mary McGrory and...
as possibly "the single greatest piece of work to come out of Vietnam", with equally positive reviews from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Gloria Emerson of the New York Times and was described as a personal account of "aching clarity... A beautiful, painful book." by the New York Times Book Review. Similar reviews were given from The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, The Financial Times and Time Magazine who cited O'Brien as "Perhaps the best writer about Vietnam".
Publication data
- If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home
- Marion Boyars Publishers, 1973 hardcover: ISBN 0-7145-1006-8
- Delacorte Press, 1975, hardcover: ISBN 0-440-03853-7
- Delta, 1989 paperback: ISBN 0-385-29774-2
- Laurel, 1992 mass market paperback: ISBN 0-440-34311-9
- Flamingo (Paladin Books), 1995 paperback: ISBN 0-586-08799-0
- Broadway, 1999 paperback: ISBN 0-7679-0443-5 (popular edition)
- Sagebrush, 2001 library binding: ISBN 0-613-08043-2
- Flamingo, 2003 reprint: ISBN 0-00-716299-5
Recommended reading
- Tobey C. Herzog, Writing Vietnam, writing life: Caputo, Heinemann, O'Brien, Butler