Some Did Not Come Back
From the very beginning of "Some Did Not Come Back," author Solbergnotes the family is extremely close. So does his sister Adelaide in hersection of the memoir. She writes, "We three were very close. When mymother was alive we were well cared for" (Solberg 5). When siblings are asclose as the Solberg's were, they tend to remain close throughout theyears, and support each other throughout their lives. When one is missing,it is as if there is a part of each of them missing. It is clear theseparation is hard on everyone. Percy often writes to "My Own DearBrother," and is disappointed when he does not receive mail (Solberg 14).Throughout his training, Percy writes religiously, and acts as a father tothe rest of the family. He tells "Lorry" to learn more about spelling, andalso often admonishes him to take care of their sister, Adelaide, who doesnot seem to be too successful living away from the family in Chicago. Thelove he feels for his family is evident by each letter he sends, and by thequantity of letters. He writes every few days, and clearly expects the Percy seems to have a premonition he will not return, as he refers to
There is a wall between the brother and sister somehow, and it isextremely sad, because she will never see him again, and will probablyregret that for the rest of her life. The separation is really taking its'toll now, and it is clear Percy is feeling less positive about his missionin France. However, the family back home could never understand or identify with whathe had gone through. Percy is a mature man who is successful in the Marines, but his heart is athome with his family, and the separation is difficult to imagine, and evenmore difficult to read about. It is a shame the rest of thefamily could not have let him die in peace. Percy grew up inthe Marines, and grew up even more when he hit the battlefields of the War. s, and notes he is happy that his younger brotherwill not be drafted. I'll never forget the awful scenes - death everywhere" (Solberg 36). Yet, at a time when he feared for his life every day,his family back home was bickering about money and income. This drives a wallbetween the family at home and the son at war. How I wish we could livethem over again - if only we knew what we know now how differently we wouldlive them" (Solberg 25). Itis clear he is bitter about that, and so, pours out more love to hisbrother through his letters. The war has separated him from the onlypeople he cares about, and it is easy to see that he is not happy about it. When he arrives in France he hears even less, and he begins to feel cutoff from his family and everything that has been normal for him up untilnow. Some of his diary entries indicate the sadness and emptiness hefeels, especially around the holidays, when he knows the family will betogether celebrating without him.
Common topics in this essay:
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Racine War,
Percy Difficulties,
Sadly Percy,
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