Tim O’Brien’s use of animal imagery in the story, The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong supports a theme of the novel that war significantly changes a person. Mary Anne came to Vietnam as a young, innocent girl. Her curiosity led her to explore the unknown, everyday life of the soldiers. Often times, she would help treat wounded soldiers, “Mary Anne wasn’t afraid to get her hands bloody. At times, in fact, she seemed fascinated by it.” (98). Mary Anne was bold, and not afraid to go out of her comfort zone. As the story progressed, she started becoming one with nature. “Mary Anne just stared out at the dark green mountains to the west. The wilderness seemed to draw her in.” (105). It surprised the soldiers that she was so drastically drawn in.