Soon after Lemon's death, O'Brien notices Rat's actions: “Rat mails the letter. Wait two months. That stupid idiot never answers." (O'Brien 68) Rat writes this letter in hopes of receiving closure for Lemon's death. Writing the letter shows the emotional and innocent side that Rat possesses, like many other soldiers who entered in this war without choice. The use of the word cooze expresses Rat's wild side because "cooze" is typically used as a derogatory word towards women. Many soldiers have developed an uncontrollable side and have lost their innocence due to violence of the war that surrounded them. Next, O'Brien notes that Rat cared for the little water buffalo: "He opened a can of C rations, pork and beans, but the little buffalo was not interested." 78) Once again, Rat offering a meal to the buffalo demonstrates his innocent side. His innocence is similar to that of the young soldiers who sacrificed their lives to serve in the Vietnam War. Before the war, these men were innocent college men who were trying to figure out their future and not fighting for their lives. On the same note, O'Brien illustrates Rat's brutal attack on the