Code Talker Chapter 22 - Fatigue

Summary

In Chapter 22 of *Code Talker* by Joseph Bruchac, the narrator reflects on the emotional and physical toll of war. He compares the worn, second-hand military vehicles to the soldiers, who are patched up and sent back into battle. After a minor injury, he experiences the psychological effects of battle fatigue, witnessing fellow soldiers who are mentally broken. The chapter draws on Navajo traditions, highlighting the story of Monster Slayer to illustrate the spiritual cost of war. Despite the emotional scars, the narrator acknowledges that Marines must continue fighting, underscoring the resilience and sacrifices made during combat.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrator reflects on the worn and patched-up state of vehicles, likening them to marines who are also patched up and sent back to fight.
• 😀 Despite the trucks' age and condition, marines, like the vehicles, manage to keep going and accomplish their missions, symbolizing resilience.
• 😀 The narrator, having been injured on Guam, shares how he was sent to Hawaii for recovery, highlighting the difficult nature of the battles.
• 😀 The narrator recounts being shot by a sniper but surviving the injury, emphasizing the physical and emotional toll of war.
• 😀 The narrator's experience shows how injuries are dealt with quickly in wartime, with medics performing surgeries on injured soldiers in ship operating rooms.
• 😀 Not all wounds are physical—battle fatigue, or mental and emotional exhaustion, affects soldiers and is a recognized issue in the armed forces.
• 😀 Those with battle fatigue are often misunderstood by those who haven't experienced combat, with some soldiers facing harsh judgment as 'fakers' or 'cowards.'
• 😀 The narrator explains the Navajo understanding of the psychological impact of war, linking it to the experiences of their ancestors.
• 😀 The story of Monster Slayer, a Navajo hero, is used to illustrate how even the strongest warriors suffer from the spiritual toll of killing enemies.
• 😀 The narrator expresses the inevitability of returning to battle despite feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted, emphasizing the persistence required in war.

Q & A

What is the significance of the worn truck in the story?

The truck serves as a metaphor for the soldiers themselves. Just as the truck is patched up and reused despite its age and wear, the marines, including the narrator, are constantly patched up after battles and sent back into combat, symbolizing resilience and the physical and emotional toll of war.

How does the narrator describe the condition of soldiers after intense combat?

The narrator describes how some soldiers suffer from 'battle fatigue,' which isn't just a physical exhaustion but a deep mental and emotional trauma. These soldiers, though physically unharmed, experience mental breakdowns, with some crying, babbling, or staring blankly into space, showing the psychological toll of prolonged warfare.

What is the meaning of 'battle fatigue' in the context of the script?

'Battle fatigue' refers to the severe emotional and psychological stress experienced by soldiers during and after combat. It highlights the mental breakdowns soldiers may endure when their spirits are overwhelmed, even if their bodies appear unscathed. The narrator emphasizes that the Navajo people understood this condition due to their cultural perspective on war.

How does the concept of 'battle fatigue' reflect the narrator’s cultural understanding?

The narrator, as a Navajo, explains that his culture has long recognized the mental wounds of war. Drawing on Navajo mythology, he likens the experience of soldiers suffering from battle fatigue to the illness of Monster Slayer, a figure in their tradition who became sick after killing his enemies. This suggests that war not only harms the body but also the spirit.

Why does the narrator compare himself and his fellow marines to old trucks?

The narrator compares himself and his comrades to the worn trucks to illustrate the idea of being repeatedly 'patched up' and sent back into battle. Like the trucks, which are repaired and reused despite their age, the soldiers are physically and mentally mended, but continue to face new challenges in the ongoing war.

What is the Enemy Way ceremony, and how is it connected to the narrator’s experiences?

The Enemy Way is a Navajo healing ceremony used to restore balance and heal those affected by the trauma of war. The narrator references this ceremony as a potential means of healing after the psychological scars of battle, although he mentions that, due to the urgency of war, he did not have time to participate in it. This highlights the cultural understanding of the need for spiritual recovery.

How does the narrator’s personal experience of being wounded in battle tie into the larger theme of resilience?

The narrator’s wound, though not serious, symbolizes the personal toll of war and the larger theme of resilience. He briefly recounts how, after being shot, he was quickly patched up and sent back to battle, mirroring the constant cycle of injury, recovery, and return to combat that all soldiers face in war.

What role does the marine corps camouflage green color play in the metaphor of being 'patched up'?

The camouflage green color used by the Marines represents both the literal and metaphorical 'patching up' of soldiers and equipment. Just as vehicles and equipment are painted to blend in and hide their imperfections, the soldiers, like the equipment, are masked and sent back into battle, often without fully recovering from their physical or mental wounds.

What does the narrator mean by 'we too were always being patched up'?

This statement reflects the soldiers’ experiences of constant repair, both physically and emotionally. Just as the military vehicles are patched up and reused, the soldiers, despite their injuries and trauma, are sent back into battle, often without adequate time for healing or recovery.

Why does the narrator feel that the physical wound he suffered is 'hardly worth mentioning'?

The narrator downplays his physical injury to emphasize that it was minor compared to the larger psychological and emotional toll of war. Despite the physical wound, it was the mental and spiritual wounds that had a lasting impact, a perspective influenced by his Navajo understanding of trauma and healing.