Compassion and War

The first thing we learn about Lieutenant Cross is that he loves a girl named Martha. We learn that he has many letters from her, and that he likes to pretend that they are love letters. Even the knowledge that Martha doesn't love him back, doesn't stop him from constantly thinking bout her. But Crosses love for Martha is not harmless. In fact, because he was too busy thinking about her, Cross let Ted Lavender, a soldier under his command, wander away from their camp to go pee. As a result, Lavender is shot and killed. Cross realized that as the commanding officer, it was his job to keep an eye on his men. And he realized that his love for Martha kept him from performing those duties. Cross feels responsibility for Lavender's death, and decides that he can no longer think about Martha, essentially shutting out his love for her. Through Lieutenant Cross, O'Brien shows that in war, compassion and feelings get in the way of survival. This is why the Cross's men seem unfazed by Lavender's death. Since they have had to separate themselves from emotions other than fear and anger in order to survive, the men have become desensitized. This also explains why the normally "very gentle" Norman Bowker carries around a human thumb. Lieutenant Cross shows and his men are perfect examples of the incompatibility of compassion and war