Class Zone: The Language of Literature

"Marine Corps Issue" by David McLean

Overview

Johnny was born while his father was serving as a Marine in Vietnam. By the time Johnny turned five, he had only seen his father once. His father returned from the war but never spoke of it. The only clues to this part of his fatherís life were locked in three wooden boxes in the tool shed. At age 16, Johnny becomes interested in Vietnam and his fatherís past. He secretly reads books about the war and, finally, takes the keys to the boxes from his fatherís key ring. He learns from the content of the boxes that his father was tortured as a prisoner of war. Johnnyís father catches him going through the last box. His father is obviously shocked and angry, but says nothing. Johnnyís father talks about the war a little over the next four years before he dies. Johnny cherishes these moments with his father the most.

Issues

This story addresses

physical and emotional abuse as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder,
avoidance and denial as inappropriate coping mechanisms,
deception and lying,
loss of a loved one.

Instructional Focus

To encourage students to identify
identify problematic familial relations.
relate post-traumatic stress to ensuing emotional and behavioral difficulties.
analyze the effectiveness of avoidance and denial as coping mechanisms.
seek appropriate counsel when dealing with high-stress situations.
identify healthful alternatives for dealing with stressful situations.

Activities

Oral Reading
Split the class into reading circles. Have each circle elect a guide and a scribe. Instruct guides to lead the oral reading of the story by all circle members. Instruct the scribe to keep notes on the conversations that evolve from the reading. Ask students to focus discussion on the events of the story that could have been handled more favorably.
Re-form the class and ask each scribe to report. List the events on the board. Ask students to offer alternative methods for dealing with each event that would likely result in more favorable resolutions.

Class Discussion
Use the following questions as springboards to solutions:

Why does Johnnyís father have his sonís name changed legally? What does this situation say about Johnnyís motherís initial understanding of the war? About her eventual understanding of what her husband has been through?
Johnny says he sees his father in two ways: playing handball or sitting in the garden with ashes falling around him. What do these two images imply about his relationship with his father? Why do you think his father plays solitary handball with arthritic hands?
What behaviors indicate that Johnnyís father suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? How should have the fatherís abusive behavior been handled?
Johnny eventually develops his fatherís explosive temper. What does this imply about the nature of violence? Now that Johnny realizes his bad temper, what should he do about it?
After Johnny sees Apocalypse Now, he lies to his parents about it. Why? What may have happened if he had told the truth?
Johnnyís mother asks Johnny not to ask his father about the war. Is this an appropriate response? Why/Why not?
Why does Johnnyís father want to see the fire? What does it represent about the control we have over the events in our lives?
How does Johnnyís opening the boxes betray the relationship he is forming with his father? How does it build the relationship?
Rather than keep the torture hidden, what alternatives may have helped the family deal with the past? Are family secrets good things? How does one decide when help is needed? Explain.

Creative Writing
Have students select a scene in which an inappropriate coping mechanism is used (for instance, Johnnyís lying about the movie). Instruct students to rewrite the scene. Have students incorporate healthful responses to the events that produce favorable resolutions (for example, Johnny tells the truth and a discussion about the war occurs).

PTSD Recovery Probability
Have students research the treatment of PTSD. Calculate the probability of recovery for POWs.

Implausible Platitudes
Joe says the war is ìWater under the bridge.î Have students identify other platitudes used to deny the truth. Ask them to suggest alternative responses that face issues directly.

Real World Connection

Have students research existing regulations regarding the treatment of political prisoners. Instruct them to use viable sources such as Amnesty International and the International Red Cross. Have students report their findings and suggest actions they can take to prevent further torture.