In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles, a tragedy known as World War II strikes America, and impacts the lives of the boys at Devon School. Each character in the book deals with the war in his own unique way. Leper enlists, Finny denies, and Gene not being able to make decisions on his own.

Leper Lepellier, the shy boy on campus, becomes the first of the Devon boys to enlist in the army. This surprises many people, because Leper is not one to do something out of the ordinary like this. After being in the army for some time, Leper desserts his post and come back home sending Gene a request to come visit him in his "Christmas location." Leper a once shy, loving boy has become insane and delirious. He tells Gene about how the army thought he was insane, and how that would...