Letters, Pocket Knives, C Rations & Steel Helmets are among the tangible items referred to in the title of this modern war classic

Find out the Final Jeopardy Answer for the episode airing on Friday, March 3 2023!

Today’s Final Jeopardy Category is: American Literature

Today’s Final Jeopardy

Letters, Pocket Knives, C Rations & Steel Helmets are among the tangible items referred to in the title of this modern war classic

Final Jeopardy Answer

The Final Jeopardy Answer is: The Things They Carried

Final Jeopardy Explanation

American author Tim O’Brien’s 1990 book The Things They Carried is a compilation of interconnected short stories about a platoon of US soldiers engaged in combat in the Vietnam War. He draws on his experiences as a soldier in the 23rd Infantry Division to write his third book about the conflict.

According to the book, the things they carried were largely determined by necessity. The following excerpts from the book refers to the items mentioned in today’s Final Jeopardy:

First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey.

Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water.

By necessity, and because it was SOP, they all carried steel helmets that weighed 5 pounds including the liner and camouflage cover.

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