Ambush :: essays research papers

     The short story Ambush by Tim OBrien is a story about a young American soldier, OBrien, in the Vietnam War. While on watch OBrien spots a young enemy soldier approaching his position. He throws a grenade and kills the young man. Years afterwards OBriens is faced with the decision of answering his young woman when she asks him if he ever killed allone in the war. Not only was killing the man a clod decision, but now OBrien must answer his daughter. Ultimately he lies to her and I think that is the correct choice in that situation.     OBriens daughter is only nine years old when she asks her father that painful question. I believe that the taking of someone elses living is such a lifetime changing event that it should only be discussed by mature adults. If OBrien chooses to tell his daughter the truth when she is older, that is okay that is what I would do.     Later in his life OBrien thinks back and tries to sor t out the mixed up issues of the foggy dawn in Vietnam. Sometimes he believe that the young man would suck just kept walking and never seen him, but sometimes he believes he did the right thing and forgives himself.     Although I dont know any war veterans, and I have never killed anyone, there was an event in my life similar to the one in this story. When I was in third station my dad was electrocuted and actually was clinically dead. He was later revived and when my mom talked to him the hospital he told her some far out things. She has briefly mentioned some of them to me passim my life, but I