I do not think that Lt. McDonough overcomes his fear. Actually, I think that due to his experience of being injured, he is more aware of some of his own fears such as staying alive, keeping his men alive, making it back home in one piece. For example, after his stint in the hospital and seeing the broken or lifeless bodies of fellow soldiers, he admits to himself that he was not special. He is human like the rest of them, and is”vulnerable.” I am unsure if someone in Lt. McDonough’s position can completely overcome the type of fears he is experiencing. Perhaps one can become desensitized given enough experience, but I think that even then, fear is in the back of everyone’s mind. Also, fear is not necessarily a bad thing, or something to be ashamed of, as pointed out in the book. Instead, it keeps you sharp and attentive to the present situation. I do not think that someone can prepare for these types of fears without having experienced something similar.

I believe that Lt. McDonough made a strong and effective first impression to his platoon. He made it clear from the start that things would be done by the book, and that he would be there with the men on their patrols, unlike his predecessor. It shows the platoon that although he is “green” and does not have some experience under his belt, that he is the person in charge of the platoon. One decision that stuck out to me was when he made the decision to not shoot the unarmed man or boy when on a patrol with Sergeant Donne’s squad. He opposed engaging the pair, which Sergeant Donne did not agree with. Before Lt. McDonough had arrived, Sergeant Donne had become the de-facto leader of the platoon. In asserting his authority over Sergeant Donne, Lt. McDonough cemented his authority, as well as his moral compass, with the men by not killing the man and child.