The Things They Carried and its myriad protagonists call to order the courage, determination, and luck we all need to survive.

Things they carried -- Love -- Spin -- On the Rainy River -- Enemies -- Friends -- How to tell a true war story -- Dentist -- Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong -- Stockings -- Church -- Man I killed -- Ambush -- Style -- Speaking of courage -- Notes -- In the field -- Good form -- Field trip -- Ghost soldiers -- Night life -- Lives of the dead.