Death Quote by Walter Dean Myers
““I took the thin magazine from the pouch in front of me and began to thumb through it. I felt self-conscious, as if I shouldn't be there. My mind began to wander, as I knew it would, back to the boonies. I was on patrol again. Monaco was on point. Peewee and Walowick followed him. Lobel and Brunner were next, then Johnson, the sixty cradled in his arm as if it were a child. We were walking the boonies, past rice paddies, toward yet another hill. I was in the rear, and for some reason I turned back. Behind me, trailing the platoon, were the others. Brew, Jenkins, Sergeant Dongan, Turner, and Lewis, the new guys, and Lieutenant Carroll. I knew I was mixing my prayers, but it didn't matter. I just wanted God to care for them, to keep them whole. I knew they were thinking about me and Peewee.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Book of Unknown Americans” excerpt, 2015
The narrator feels out of place during a military patrol, reflecting on fear, prayer, and responsibility for comrades in a foreign setting.
In simple terms: Feeling out of place, praying for comrades.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge fear and support others.
Themes
war
faith
identity
loneliness
responsibility
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
narrative
contemplative
When to use this quote
- combat patrol
- foreign deployment
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
camaraderie
spirituality
anxiety
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope with fear?
- What role does prayer play in crisis?
A Different Perspective
May idealize heroism.
