The story “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is the first story in his book of stories relating to the Vietnam War. As Barth Healey puts it, “Almost all the dramatic furnishings of “The Things They Carried” - characters, scenery, incidents - are embedded in the Vietnam War. Nevertheless the book is not about Vietnam, and not about war” (Healey). Indeed, “The Things They Carried” introduces us to the circumstances surrounding the Vietnam War, but then again more importantly, it introduces us to the men who served with O’Brien and the burdens they carried. The story paints a unique picture of war, one that is different from the typical war story, a story that is personal, explicit and intense. With careful attention to detail, O’Brien is able to help us focus on the men who fought that war, which allows us to understand opposition to war from a very personal point of view. Through each character in the story, O’Brien expertly illustrates how war leaves a lasting impression on people, sometimes changing them forever. This paper will explore the range of O’Brien’s technique, which makes him such a successful writer. According to Joanne McCarthy, Tim O’Brien is “recognized as one of the strongest voices to emerge from the Vietnam War” (McCarthy). This can easily be understood as we consider his dynamic style. An example of O’Brien’s style is the special attention to detail given to the things the soldiers carried: the things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, fog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tables, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water. (O’Brien 2). Here O’Brien displayed a literal aspect of all the things that the soldiers carried along with them. Along with the tangible, we are also introduced to the intangible, as we soon discover that some of the soldiers carried a sort of wistful resignation, others with pride or stiff soldierly discipline or good humor or macho zeal. They were afraid of dying, but they were even more afraid to show it . . . [the soldiers] "carried the soldier's greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing. Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. (20) Robert Harris reiterates this idea when he observes that the “the story is really about the other things the soldiers ‘carry’: “grief, terror, love, longing . . . shameful memories” (Harris). O’Br