Alpha Company, The Things They Carried?

Question

How do I figure out what kind of unit the Alpha Company in Tim O' Brien's "The Things They Carried". I don't know exactly what I mean but examples of the thing I am look for are like the "36th Infanty Regiment" or "the 1st Airborne Division" If someone could also tell me what this thing is called, is it a unit? Thanks - Patrick :P

Answer 1

The book is a memoir--a fictional story based on the author's experiences in Vietnam. "Alpha Company" could be any infantry company in the war. By keeping the company's identity vague the author can avoid the natural desire to make comparisons to actual units that served.

A "company" is a basic, independent unit of organization and division in the military. They can be divided to form platoons or combined to form battalions and are almost always under the command of a captain.

Answer 2

It is really simple, since World War Two and into Vietnam:

A Infantry Company was a group of 130-145 men +/- that were in three groups of say 35 men called a platoon and one group called the "CP" "Command Platoon".

The CP had the officer a Captain and such as a few radiomen, a artillery liaison, a few soldiers, the senior medic and such.

Each platoon had a Lieutenant in charge of the 35 or more men and these were broken into usually three squads.

The Platoons followed closely the directions of the Commanding Officer the "CO" by radio. Everything that one needed was carried on their backs in a "rucksack" a backpack and in a few pockets and of course rifle in their hands.

We carried in that rucksack: our food, water, also on a belt via canteens, a poncho liner for sleeping, and such as extra ammo and a few personal items: photos, a shaving kit, perhaps letters from home, and paper to write such.

It was a very harsh way to live and well we were there to fight a war: the Viet Cong or North Vietnamese Army.

One knew most everyone in their platoon well and many of the others in a company. Guys knew fellow Texans, other Blacks, Hispanics, and such but we were all Brothers.

Ask and I'll send more;

Answer 3

You would look for a notation that says something like;
Alpha Company, 21st Regiment, 84th Infantry Division. The 84th would be an Infantry Division If the 21st was called Armored Infantry then the 84th is an Armored Division.

Having seen the book once or twice in the Store I think that Alpha Co is an Infantry company. I hope my explanation helps.