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  • Essay / A Review of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

    The book Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers, satisfactorily describes the life of an American soldier in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The average age of an American soldier was 19 years old. These soldiers had to quickly learn and adapt to a war environment to survive the war mentally and physically. Many of the soldiers in the book had their own ways of coping with the horrors they perceived during the war, so as not to go crazy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essayThe main character of the book, Richard Perry has just graduated from high school and he has decided to enlist in the army because even with good grades, he couldn't afford to go to college and lived with his alcoholic mother. When Perry landed in Vietnam, he clearly wasn't ready to see what it had to offer. While fighting in Vietnam, Perry witnessed things that no one would want to witness in their lifetime, things that really make you think and question your being. He has witnessed so many disturbing scenes, such as death, murder and even yours. As a soldier in the Vietnam War, Richard Perry must find a way to cope with what he saw, what he did, and war in general. What Perry does is “escape” the war, because he tends to think about his family back home. He thinks of his mother and his brother who means a lot to him even if he doesn't show as much expression towards his mother as his brother Kenny. He also thinks about his past experiences at home and during the war. Another coping mechanism Richie uses is thinking about his hometown of Harlem, New York. He thinks about the things and people he left behind and the possible scenarios of what would have happened if he hadn't joined the military. Richie is the one who struggles to understand his observations and refuses to dismiss the complex issues they raise. Another character named Lobel shows strong signs of trying to "escape" the war by pretending like it's a big movie. Lobel turned to films, he saw Vietnam as a giant movie set and he considered himself the protagonist of a war film. His fascination with cinema is more than just a diversion, it is an escape from a reality too difficult for Lobel to face. He holds firmly to the idea that films are "the only true thing in life", thus allowing himself to rid himself of the horrible sights he considers unreal around him. Lobel's fascination with movies helps him resolve the difficult morality issues Richie faces. While thinking that the world of cinema is much more realistic than the battlefield. Lobel will believe that it is not even worth questioning these difficult questions. Harold Gates or Peewee also has his own way of dealing with war. Throughout the book, you see Peewee use his humor and boldness to face the war and his fears. Peewee reacts with arrogant comedy to confusion and fear, making jokes about any embarrassing suspicions. When Peewee is suddenly overtaken by the Vietnamese child who has become a sacrifice. By laughing and making inappropriate comments, Peewee manages to break out of the paralysis and hide his true emotions. In the book, when one of the team's soldiers unfortunately passes away, there is a lot of crying. The soldiers also seem to think a lot about these soldiers and what they meant to the team. For example, when Jenkins stepped on that land mine and exploded. It was the first death Richie had seen during the war, and Richie,.