While I do agree that it would be a necessity for me to carry something with me from home, like a photograph or a letter, I disagree with your opinion that it helped Lieutenant Cross to carry those items that reminded him of Martha. I actually believe it was detrimental to his platoon that he was constantly focused on what he had left at home. He would get so enveloped in thinking about the relationship he wanted with Martha that he didn't focus fully on leading his platoon.
After he burned the photographs and letters from Martha, he shows that he wants to turn all of his attention to the platoon because he feels resposible for what happened to Ted Lavender: "It wouldn't help Lavender, he knew that, but from this point on he would comport himself as an officer" (1471). Cross felt that some of the emotional baggage he carried ditracted from his ability to carry out his duty as the leader of the platoon. This gave me the idea that it would be nice to have something to remind me of what I was fighting for, but I wouldn't want to carry anything that would keep me from effectively serving.
I agree with you Devon, that Lieutenant Cross's carrying of Martha's photss and letters were detrimental to his platoon. Carrying reminders of Martha turned out to be more baggage than he was able to carry and he stumbled under their weight. It seems to me, that in times of war, it would be important to only served as signs of hope. Martha's photos and letters did not seem to motivate Cross to do his job well and protect his men as well as himself. Instead, the items brought Cross down as they were a consistent reminder that he was away from the woman he loves and that she most likely did not love him back. When Cross disposed of the items, he strenghtend himself to focus the present, his reality and the people who would bring him hope of survival.
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