VLVL 4: RC

[jbor]

on 30/12/03 2:16 AM, Terrance wrote:

> Is he a Vietnam Vet?
> 
> OK, say he is ... so what?
> 
> He never talks, He never says he's a Vietnam Vet. He never denies he is.
> He doesn't do anything.

He's a character in the novel, and we're given quite a bit of back story on
him. He communicates non-verbally with Zoyd at the Lost Nugget (36.15-18),
and he and his family end up being part of Zoyd's and Prairie's circle of
friends (40.32). Zoyd is in business with him and "Moonpie". We're actually
told straight out in the narration that he's a "bush vet", and his character
trajectory is framed by the phrase "since the war". That's more conclusive
than if he were to say he was a Vietnam vet.

I'm not sure why you want to erase him from the text.

best