A True War Story

O’Brien is constantly repeating the story of how his friend Lemon dies. And every time the story is told the details of how he died, what led up to his death, and what happened after his death keeps changing. It is clear that O’Brien is suffering from PTSD by the repetition of Lemon’s story. It is very clear that he relives this memory over and over, maybe too much. He claims that even 20 years later he can still see the light on Lemon’s face. O’Brien is able to remember the step he took right before his death and the fact Bower sung “Lemon Tree” while taking Lemon’s body down from the tree. O’Brien keeps repeating a true war story and then different definitions of it. He claims that the truth about war is contradictory and in turn that must mean that a true war story must somewhat contradict its actual truth. That leads to the question did it really happen? O’Brien mentions that it is hard to separate what actually happened from what could have taken place. He defends himself saying his memory is hazy because he watched a friend died. O’Brien later says you’re supposed to feel a real true story in your stomach. In the part where he describes the pain of Rat after Lemon dies and how he tortures and kills a baby buffalo hits mine. Does that mean it must be true? He also says that after someone tells a story and afterward you ask, “Is it true?” and if the answer matters, you’ve got your answer. Since we are asking the question of “Is it true?” to us it must be true otherwise we feel cheated it never happened. The way the story is told and the imagery used I can’t help but clearly imagine how Lemon died by stepping on the booby trap and being surrounded by light as he was lifted into the tree.