“Soldier’s Home”

1. “Soldier’s Home” Notes

2. Krebs is a young man from Oklahoma who enlisted in the Marines in 1917. • He returned home in 1919, but “much too late.” He was welcomed back without any real celebration because of it. • At first he doesn’t want to talk about the war, and then when he does, no one wants to listen. He begins to lie about things he did and things that happened so that people would listen.

3. He feels bad about lying. • Krebs lies are not overly exaggerated. • He feels as if he doesn’t fit in because the war scared him. He only really feels comfortable when he’s around other soldiers who know what it’s like to be afraid.

4. Krebs is a hero to his two younger sisters. His mother loves him but doesn’t want to hear about the war. His father is detached and they don’t seem to have a good relationship. • He doesn’t want a girlfriend because he thinks dating is too complicated and he thinks he’ll have to tell more lies.

5. Krebs misses the French & German girls because “there was not all this talking.” Maybe because of the language barrier. Also the French and German girls knew more about the war than the Americans did.

6. Krebs seems to be drifting through life. His mother mentions a boy his age that has a job and is engaged. Krebs can’t seem to relate. • His parents want him to find a job. • Krebs is so messed up and lost that he tells his mother he doesn’t love her. • He apologizes and even though he makes plans to find a job and please his family, he is still confused and no better than before.