Chapter 3 Summary

The author continues to show the reader the realities of war, as they unfold to him. The Marines' excitement continues to pull them into eagerly fighting a war they think they cannot lose.

Caputo introduces the reader to proud men and then follows that introduction with accounts of how they either died or were severely wounded in combat. The novel begins to take on a sinister tone.

Caputo's men, along with two other companies, get orders to go to Vietnam, this time for real. However, instead of being ready to run off to war, the men are out drinking or having fun with the prostitutes. Caputo helps to round them up, before they pack up and ship out on giant C-130 planes. They leave at 8:00 p.m. on March 8th for Danang, Vietnam on a defensive assignment.

The men spend their first day...