This says that people change during wars. Their identity has changed due to the terrible things happening around them. That is why he didn't know their names. The alter personality created by the war is one without fear. The soldiers are afraid of the war, but even more afraid of what people would think of them if they showed their fear.
O'brian was trying to show that women can be in combat and be just as effective as men. At first Mary Anne Bell was just this sweet and innocent girl who was barely out of school. A thing like her and "Nam" didn't match up... Or so we thought. Vietnam changed her just as much or in fact way more so than any of the characters we have been introduced to. He could have also been trying to say that even the most innocent person will turn crazy once they are put into the war.
I don't think that most of his stories are true. They are just too absurd and unreal to have truth in them. Most of his stories are just huge exaggerations. I don't see the advantage of telling it this way, but a disadvantage is that you'll never get the full story or truth by telling it this way. It doesn't really matter or distract from the book because it is all up to the author to write what he wants to.
Questions: Would you remember the real names of the people in your squad or use nicknames why or why not?
Would you write down your experiences or just try to forget them?
