Karma's a Not Very Nice Woman

"'But you got to promise. Swear it to me - swear you won't kill me.'

"Jensen nodded and said, 'I swear,'...Later we heard that Strunk died somewhere over Chu Lai, which seemed to relieve Dave Jensen of an enormous weight." -- Page 63

Alas, yet another member of Squad TTTC is wandering the Elysian Fields.  It seems only fitting that the two consecutive chapters highlighting Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk's relationship are titled 'Enemies' and 'Friends'.  It mirrors the fickleness of Vietnam itself.  One day you're safe and sound in a foxhole, the next day a mortar round just went through your leg.  The two men's relationship is also defined through the diction and colloquialism spoken between them, most evident with the phrase "Swear it to me".  The word 'swear' is not used as simply a vulgar promise, but rather as a sign of the bond between the two friends, explaining why Strunk insists on repeated affirmation.  In my personal opinion, Strunk had it coming.  He stole a guy's jackknife.  I mean, c'mon, you don't do that stuff...