The Things They Carried Characters list

Elroy Berdahl

Elroy Berdahl is a quiet and mysterious old man who owns a remote fishing lodge on the Rainy River, near the border between Minnesota and Canada. He is the only character in the book who actively tries to dissuade Tim O’Brien from going to war, but ultimately allows O’Brien to stay at his lodge and search his own conscience.

Jimmy Cross

Jimmy Cross is a young and inexperienced lieutenant who leads a group of soldiers in Vietnam. He is in love with a girl named Martha, and his obsession with her distracts him from his responsibilities as a leader, ultimately leading to tragedy for his men.

Kiowa

Kiowa is a Native American soldier in the Vietnam War and a close friend of the protagonist, Tim O’Brien. He is depicted as calm, grounded, and deeply spiritual, with a strong connection to his heritage and the land. Kiowa’s death is one of the most tragic moments in the book and serves as a reminder of the devastating human cost of war.

Mary Anne Bell

Mary Anne Bell is a college student who comes to Vietnam to visit her boyfriend, but becomes involved in the war and ultimately transforms into a ruthless and savage soldier.

Mitchell Sanders

Mitchell Sanders is a soldier who features in Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, serving in the Vietnam War as a medic and a member of Alpha Company. He is known for his sharp wit, storytelling skills, and practical jokes, and is revered by his fellow soldiers for his courage and his ability to keep things in perspective in the face of the horrors of war.

Norman Bowker

Norman Bowker is a traumatized Vietnam veteran in the book The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. He struggles with the guilt and shame of surviving the war, and his isolation and disconnection from society is evident.

Tim O’Brien

Tim O’Brien is a Vietnam War veteran and author who writes about his experiences during the conflict in The Things They Carried.