Part 2, Chapter 2 Summary

The newly arrived soldiers are miserable in the conditions on the island; their clothing is always wet from constant rain, and high winds blow down their primitive tents; they have to stand guard duty at night sitting in wet foxholes, frightened at every sound. Croft is frustrated that his platoon are on labor duties, instead of fighting. He belligerently demands more men from Captain Mantelli, the Headquarters Company Commander, a man who giggles a great deal. Mantelli says he can have another man, and assigns him a feeble clerk named Roth, who is Jewish.

Roth does not fit in with the other men, who think of nothing but women. He meets another Jew, Goldstein, and they discuss the Army. Roth has a negative perspective, but Goldstein is cheerful. Roth complains that the Army treats officers better than the men, in the...