Chapter 7 Summary and Analysis

Ron always wanted to be a winner, for his entire life - in wrestling, baseball, the marines and his protesting; but things were different now; his hopes were crushed. The man he killed with one shot haunted him. His troop knew what happened, that he had shot a corporal from Georgia. The story flashes back to Vietnam.

When Ron returns to the battalion, he reported to his lieutenant that they retreated and the corporal was shot. Ron panics, knowing that he killed the corporal and now sees him in his mind. He wanted to commit suicide due to his guilt and knew he would always feel that way to some degree. He never killed a communist, only a fellow American soldier. He tries to convince himself it was an accident.

Kovic next reported to the major and the major asks him...