Sunrise Over Fallujah Discussion Question

Discuss whether or not Robin wants to be in Iraq right now.

       

Robin may not seem like he wants to be in combat in Iraq right now but inside he feels like he should be there and that he wants to help. Robin is scared of the action he could be facing in Iraq, it is obvious he has his doubts about being there, but deep inside he wants to help the Iraqi people and support his country in any way he can. Robin does not quite know why he decided to join the military, he is scared, but he joined and is now adapting to the military life and trying to help the cause in any way he can. Robin did not know what to expect when he joined the military, he did not know what the combat would be like or if he would even be in combat, "I went to one knee and brought my piece up to my shoulder. The scope was full of dust and I fired looking over the barrel, panning across the road" (102). Robin had not fired his gun until this point in the book, but he takes responsibility and he likes having the power in his hands, having the ability to help his country. He had never even thought about having to fire his gun. Robin had his whole perspective changed as soon as he had to fire his gun. Robin went from an everyday kid to a soldier in Iraq having to use lethal combat and see things that he was not exposed to back home, he is growing and adapting to the life in Iraq. Robin truly wants to be there and he wants to help his country, and the people of Iraq.