The Things They Carried is a powerful and moving collection of stories by Tim O’Brien, exploring the physical and emotional burdens of the Vietnam War. Through the stories of a group of soldiers, O’Brien reveals the complex reality of war and its devastating effects on the human spirit
From Wikipedia
The Things They Carried (1990) is a collection of linked short stories by American novelist Tim O'Brien, about a platoon of American soldiers fighting on the ground in the Vietnam War. His third book about the war is based upon his experiences as a soldier in the 23rd Infantry Division.