Going After Cacciato Study Guide & Notes

Going After Cacciato Plot Summary

Preview of Going After Cacciato Summary:

Paul Berlin is an average American boy from the Midwest, who is been sent to Vietnam in 1968, and on his first day, a man in his platoon dies of fright. Paul Berlin begins to use his imagination to deal with the horrors of war, and a major split from reality begins when another platoon member, Cacciato, deserts and a squad is sent out to capture him.

The story jumps from present to past, and from Paul Berlin's imaginary observation post to Paul Berlin's imaginary trip to Paris. The timelines diverge in September, when the squad is chasing Cacciato before he makes it into Laos. At that point, Paul Berlin's imagination takes the squad on a long journey to Paris to chase Cacciato.

In reality, Paul Berlin's experience in the war begins on his first day when Billy Boy Watkins steps on a land mind...
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