"They were bullet holes in his body but they were bloodless and had been put there long after death. They were meant to simulate the effects of a firefight somewhere out in the bush. In Hong's left ear there was a narrow rectangular slot; an empty mineshaft that plunged downward through soft cartilage into the auditory canal, blunting memory after memory like a ravenous disease of the aged." (Vea, 85)Explanation:
The passage above is significant because at this point Jesse discovers how corrupt war is. American soldiers murdered Hong Trac and made it look like he was shot in a firefight. However, Jesse knows this is false because he talked to Hong one week prior to finding him and he had told Jesse how he was going to die in the hands of the Americans. Jesse at first didn't believe this but, ultimately he finds out that Hong was correct. This is the point in Jesse's life were he began to keep to himself. In the last chapter Jesse talks about how he has nightmares in which two individuals appear one of which was an American staff sergeant and another which was a Vietnamese soldier. Now we learn that the Vietnamese soldier was Hong and it is understandable why he appears in Jesse's nightmares. It is meaningful because this was the point in Jesse's life that really changed his perspective in life.
Questions:
(1) What did Jesse do after learning about Hong's death? Who did he meet?
(2) When the french lady asks Jesse if he knew Hong Trac why did Jesse deny knowing him even though he did know him?
