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"'Somalia: The Things They Carried" is an adaptation of the literary work of Vietnam veteran Tim O'Brien, released in 1987. The book is a poignant exploration of the emotional and physical burdens borne by a platoon in an active combat situation in Somalia. The book boasts of powerful literary techniques and depth, emphasising not just the physical burdens the soldiers carry but also the emotional baggage of guilt, fear, love and grief. The books were written 42 years apart, but despite this, what remains recurrent to the individual soldier is the themes of shame, courage, and moral confusion, which will always persist in any active conflict situation.