In "The Things They Carried," soldiers carried both personal and military items. These included weapons like M-16 rifles and grenade launchers, personal items such as letters, photographs, and mementos, and necessities like mosquito repellent and ponchos. Additionally, they carried emotional burdens, memories, and the psychological weight of war. Each item, whether practical or sentimental, symbolized the soldiers' identities and the heavy emotional and physical loads they bore.

Ted Lavender carried several items that reflected his fear and coping mechanisms during the Vietnam War. He carried tranquilizers and six or seven ounces of premium dope to manage his anxiety. Additionally, he carried 34 rounds of ammunition, a starlight scope, and an orphan puppy in his rucksack. Lavender's heavy load symbolized not only the physical burdens of war but also the emotional weight of fear and vulnerability.

The soldiers carried personal items that connected them to their civilian lives, such as letters from a hopeful romantic interest, toothbrushes, dental floss, tranquilizers, diaries, comic books, and a New Testament. They also carried practical items like insecticide, suntan lotion, Vietnamese-English dictionaries, chess sets, and basketballs. Many carried photographs of loved ones. These items symbolized their humanity and the emotional burdens of love, heartache, and the struggle to maintain dignity amidst the horrors of war.

The title "The Things They Carried" reflects the physical and emotional burdens borne by soldiers in the Vietnam War. These burdens include weapons, personal items, and emotional weight such as fear, guilt, and memories. The story explores how these tangible and intangible loads affect the soldiers' experiences and relationships, emphasizing the profound impact of war on individuals.