In "Soldier’s Home," the notion of a soldier returning to a place of comfort and shared memories is turned on its head. Instead of a refuge, Harold Krebs finds his hometown unchanged and unwelcoming, a stark contrast to his own transformation. The story captures the struggle between truth and deception, as Krebs navigates the expectations of a society that prefers sanitized tales of heroism over the brutal honesty of war.

The Homecoming

Returning from the battlefields of World War I, Harold Krebs arrives back in Oklahoma, only to confront a world that seems frozen in time. The town remains untouched by the war's impact, unlike Krebs, who bears the profound changes of his experiences. This disparity lays the groundwork for the central conflict: Krebs is expected to share stories of valor, yet feels burdened by the truth of the horrors he witnessed. The townspeople’s appetite for heroic narratives forces Krebs into a cycle of deceit, leaving him with a growing sense of "nausea in regard to experience that is the result of untruth or exaggeration."

Isolation and Routine

Alienated by his own truths, Krebs drifts into a life of isolation. His days blend into a routine of sleeping in, reading casually, practicing the clarinet, and playing pool. Relationships are avoided as Krebs seeks to escape the complications they bring. He is physically home, but emotionally adrift, finding no solace in the place that should have been his refuge. The promise of the soldier's home remains unfulfilled, leaving Krebs disconnected from his surroundings and the people he once knew.

Confrontation with Maternal Expectations

The story builds to a poignant climax when Krebs engages in a conversation with his mother about religion and employment—topics she assumes will offer comfort and direction. Instead, these subjects lead to an unexpected moment of honesty from Krebs. When his mother asks, “Don’t you love your mother, dear boy?” Harold’s candid response, “I don’t love anybody,” devastates her. Unable to accept his truth, Mrs. Krebs breaks down, prompting Harold to retract his words in an effort to soothe her. In a moment of desperation, he reassures her that he didn't mean it, blaming his outburst on a vague anger. This retreat into falsehood momentarily restores her maternal authority as she reminisces about his childhood, leading him to resort to the childlike plea: “I know, Mummy. . . . I’ll try and be a good boy for you.” Together, they kneel and she prays for him, an act that highlights the chasm between their realities.

A Departure

Following the emotional turmoil of his interaction with his mother, Krebs makes a pivotal decision. He resolves to leave the stifling environment of his Oklahoma hometown and seek a different path in Kansas City. There, he hopes to find a job and live a life defined by simplicity and ease, free from the burdensome expectations of his past. This departure marks a significant step for the former Marine, as he seeks to carve out a space where he can exist without the pressure to conform or deceive. In leaving, Krebs attempts to shed the weight of his experiences and the lies he has told, in search of a place where he can finally be at peace.