Kevin Bowen was drafted into the army and served in Vietnam
1968-69. He is the Director of the William Joiner Center for the
Study of War and Its Social Consequences at the University of
Massachusetts—Boston. He has returned to Vietnam several times
and his first book, Playing Basketball with the Viet Cong, was
named “Pick of the Year” by The Progressive magazine. Temple At
Quan Loi, 1969 Questions for Reflection: “First Casualty” and
“Temple at Quan Loi, 1969” - If you’ve never seen a dead body
how might you describe the feeling when you did? How do you
think this image would return to you at other times? - How does
the poet go about his daily routine after seeing his dead
comrade? Why do you think one of the other soldier’s voices,
“don’t mean nothing?” - How does the image of the warrior follow
him? Describe the phrase, “a surplice trailing the jungle
floor.” What may be the importance of the image to the warrior?
- In the poem “Temple at Quan Loi, 1969,” what might the warrior
and the woman have in common