Trying to Walk Away From a War by 'Going After Cacciato'

Review: GOING AFTER CACCIATO (Dell Publishing 1979)
Author: Tim O'Brien

My first Tim O'Brien book was THE THINGS THEY CARRIED, a collection of stories based on his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War. I was so taken with his writing I decided to read JULY, JULY next. A novel about a class reunion that I thought might be too much like The Big Chill – but it wasn't.

So, knowing (I thought) what to expect, I picked up GOING AFTER CACCIATO. I guess I was expecting something like Saving Private Ryan, but it's not even close to that. In this book, O'Brien once again drew on his experiences in Vietnam, but unlike THE THINGS THEY CARRIED, this is a novel. And unlike either of the other books, this one delves into the realm of "magical realism."

The story in sum is that Cacciato is a young, seemingly slow, rather goofy soldier that no one in his unit takes seriously. One day, Cacciato simply disappears – walks away from the war. He says he's going to walk west until he reaches Paris, France.

News of Cacciato's plans are met by the troops with a mixture of disbelief, wonder and perplexity. So, what to do? Cacciato is guilty of desertion, so the lieutenant in charge says they have to follow and apprehend him. They end up going after him, catching glimpses of him from time to time, but somehow he keeps eluding them.

The story (while flashing back and forth in time) takes the troops on a kind of spiritual journey, as well as a mission. It's told from the point of view of Paul Berlin, who undergoes his own personal journey along the way, after the troops encounter a group of Vietnamese refugees. (People who are fleeing the war – symbolic much?) One of them is a beautiful young woman who Berlin falls for and who provides her own unique perspective on the situation. As the troops who seek Cacciato get further and further from the front, the notion of actually reaching Paris becomes less and less like a dream and more like a possibility.

The story has plenty of symbolism, but to discuss it might reveal some spoilers. Suffice it say, it's clever and deepens the story's meaning without making it less engrossing or too pedantic.

During the journey, the soldiers undergo hardships that include all sorts of suspenseful situations (even dire ones). It's an enthralling and well-written tale that will keep you hooked up until the big finish. (Again, to say more about the end would be saying too much.)

Do they make it to Paris? Do they ever find Cacciato? And, if they do, what should they do with him? Take him back? Cut him loose and leave the war behind, too? These questions and moral dilemmas are raised throughout the story.

While simply walking away from a war may be a dream, GOING AFTER CACCIATO presents it as a hope and even a possibility.