In “How to Tell a True War Story”, O'Brien gives readers advice on how to recount a war story and keep it as true as possible. He says, “a true war story is never moral,” and “if a story seems moral, do not believe it.” If reading or hearing a war story brings you joy or uplifts you, then “you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie.” O'Brien states that true war stories should basically have no filter. By censoring some of the gruesome parts of the war you’re essentially hiding the truth.
In the same chapter, "How to Tell a True War Story," O'Brien tells us about the time Rat Kiley wrote a letter to Curt Lemon's sister. In the letter, Rat writes about how a great guy Curt was, how he had a great attitude, always knew how to