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A Rumor of War: the author’s personal transformation portrayed throughout the book Introduction

A Rumor of War is a classic memoir written by Philip Caputo which shows great experiences and transformations of the author while working as a Marine during the Vietnam War. It is an account of transformative changes which took place from March 1956 when Caputo was deployed to go and fight against their enemies. On the mission, the author learns that his romantic notion of fighting in a war does not necessarily have the resemblance to the bloody brutality which he had always imagined from the experiences of Vietnamese Army and Vietcong Vividly explaining the messages and lessons learnt from the dehumanizing brutality of war. Caputo’s transformational experiences are more beyond the theme into more complex issues which involve psychology of culture which makes the young people e around the world to believe that war and sacrifice are needed for transformation from boy to manhood. The author together with other young men ensures the sufferings experienced in war and the process, they became the representatives of ‘innocent time’ before the destruction and death of Vietnam (Caputo, 71). Towards the end, the writer made an outstanding account that the issues surrounding war such as the bloody skirmishes, massive emotional and psychological; attrition, hostile environment among many other issues greatly contributed to the physical and emotional collapse of the issue. These reflections make the authors accept the consequences of wars which show that it is indeed disgraced to the country and it should be widely condemned. Caputo’s writings express memoir exposes which shed light on the things which men do in war and the things which war does to men.

The first transformation of an author is shown when he diligently showed his passion from an early age. Caputo was raised in the middle-class family whose main activity was earning a living through fishing near Chicago. Raised up comfortably, the author made an account that he became very bored living comfortable and such comfort would not grant him to be a hero. He wanted to, “transform from the mere community boy into a total a well-respected hero in the country.” In the process, his first step of making the transformation was through volunteering for the Marine ROTC while still in the college, and some years later, he joined the military to satisfy his curiosity of making the turning point in life. The process of joining military made Caputo believes changed from inexperienced 20 years old soldier to a man of higher destiny who was driven to maniacal violence in a consistent attempt to revenge against his fellow fallen soldiers. The harshest reality was experienced by the author in the mountainous, unbearable and jungle of Vietnam after being dropped by the senior army officials. The conditions of the jungle in itself were very dangerous and murderous: scorching heat and thick green jungle of elephant grass, huge impenetrable thicket and the extensive thorns which serves the harshest form of punishment ever experienced. The author had to transform so that he could survive in such conditions. It was evident that the Vietnamese will, “ambush any time the Americans in such stressing environment and the process, the soldiers would not be able to cope up with the psychological stress.” Geared by the worst conditions and the painful feeling of being unable to defend themselves from the Vietcong, the men became made and chopped off ears and killed the wounded Vietcong soldiers, took their trophies and mercilessly murdered them without the second thought. Having the only ultimate goal of protecting his men and achieving his senior’s expectations, Caputo’s judgment and reasons deserted him while he made reflections of murderous experiences rages followed by remorse and guilt. How Caputo’s views on war and himself change Reflecting the experiences at headquarters months later, Caputo realized that he was very obsessed with the American body counts, hallucinations due to recalling of the bodies of dead men. In the process, the author transformed and learned to resent the trivial decisions and the concurrent decisions made by the leaders and administrators of the war. The decisions by the administrators to instruct the soldiers to massively shoot the villagers in napalm were very cruel action, and he made a reflection of what needs to be done as a substitute for war. “The suffering of the innocent women and children was a turning point in his thoughts which triggered him to push for and recommend the importance of peace and unity”. In the process of growing more emotionally with numb, he extended his rage and longed for death, the ultimate stage of dissociating with the harsh reality. When Caputo was sent to his men back at home, the serene environment ideally makes a mockery of what he experienced on the fighting ground. The man embraced each other and showed concern for each other and the extension of kindness move all the way to the civilian population. Indeed, the author is convinced that nothing can be compared with peace because when there is peace, there love, unity and development.

How Caputo’s evolution a reflection of the greater changes taking place in American society Caputo’s evolution reflection in American society has triggered the minds of the policymakers on issues of Vietnam War. America has shifted to establishing diplomatic ways of peace alliance as opposed to the fighting. According to the studies, “the physical war is regarded as the final resolution after all the peace deals fail.” Likewise, Vietnamese are now prying into the developed world for the sake themselves and the destiny of their children. The political shifts their focus to establishing long-term peace deals in an attempt of building a better world. America, as the superpower nation advocates for negotiations and peace deals which is seen as an attempt at ending a historical war. There is hope for the two nations because significant progress has been achieved so far (Caputo, 87).

In conclusion, the story of Philip Caputo is an awakening call of experiences faced by soldiers and people when war is declared. War has a harsh reality, and it should never be tolerated. In my opinion, establishing ways of sustainable peace is significant so as to end the injustices caused by the fighting countries. The author accounted that the conditions of the jungle in it were very dangerous and murderous: scorching heat and thick green jungle of elephant grass, huge impenetrable thicket and the extensive thorns which serves the harshest form of punishment ever experienced.These reflections make the authors accept the consequences of wars which show that it is indeed disgraced to the country and it should be widely condemned.

Works Cited Caputo, Philip. A Rumor of War. New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1977. Print.