Tim O'Brien "kills" Ted Lavender in The Things They Carried in order to show the profound effect on Lavender's platoon leader, Jimmy Cross, who feels guilty for the death of a man under his command. Lavender's death is significant because it occurs early in the narrative and is used as a chronological marker for other events.

Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feels guilty about Ted Lavender's death because he was distracted by thoughts of Martha, a woman he loved, instead of focusing on his duties. This lapse in attention coincided with Lavender being shot by an enemy sniper. Although Lavender's death was not directly Cross's fault, he irrationally blames himself, feeling he prioritized his love for Martha over his responsibility to his men. Lavender's death symbolizes the collective guilt and burdens the soldiers carry.

In "Spin," O'Brien compares the war to a Ping-Pong ball to illustrate its complexity and varied perceptions. Just as a Ping-Pong ball can be manipulated to behave differently, the war can be seen from multiple viewpoints, revealing both good and bad moments. This metaphor emphasizes how individual perspectives and experiences shape the understanding of the war.

O'Brien emphasizes the importance of stories as a means to preserve memories and make sense of past events, particularly the chaos of war. In The Things They Carried, stories serve to validate truths beyond mere facts, offering deeper emotional and psychological insights. O'Brien suggests that "story-truth" can sometimes be more impactful than "happening-truth," as narratives can evoke genuine feelings and create connections with the past, even when factual details are altered.

The "ghosts" the soldiers carry in "The Things They Carried" symbolize the haunting memories and emotional burdens from the war and their past lives. These intangible forces, like memories of home or actions taken in Vietnam, influence their behavior and choices. The war itself is depicted as a ghostly presence, creating a pervasive sense of ambiguity and moral confusion. This metaphor highlights the psychological impact and lingering effects of their experiences, both during and after the war.

In The Things They Carried, Norman Bowker carries a thumb to symbolize the futility and brutality of war. Given to him by Mitchell Sanders, the thumb represents the desensitization and psychological shift soldiers undergo. While Sanders sees it as a moral lesson on the senselessness of war, the thumb also dehumanizes the enemy and signifies victory, highlighting the moral ambiguity in wartime behavior.

The theme of "Speaking of Courage" revolves around the difficulty of conveying the true experiences of war to those who haven't lived it, highlighting the complex nature of courage. The story follows Norman Bowker's struggle to articulate his feelings of inadequacy for not receiving a Silver Star due to a perceived act of cowardice. It questions societal perceptions of bravery and the arbitrary nature of military honors, suggesting that true courage often goes unrecognized.

In "The Things They Carried," the heaviest burden was the emotional and psychological weight the soldiers bore. This included grief, fear, shame, and the constant threat of death, compounded by the pressure to live up to expectations and avoid dishonor. Unlike physical items, these intangibles were ever-present and inescapable, making them more burdensome than any physical load. The fear of embarrassment and the need to maintain reputations were as oppressive as the war itself.

Ted Lavender's death is crucial in understanding The Things They Carried because it forces Lt. Jimmy Cross to confront his distractions, symbolized by his obsession with Martha, ultimately leading him to burn her letters. For the other soldiers, Lavender's death serves as a stark reminder of their mortality and the war's randomness, deepening their trauma and emphasizing the emotional burdens they carry.