Kovic's "Born On The Fourth Of July"

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to be first, even if it meant
incredible agony.
The coaches made us do sit-ups, push-ups, and spinning drills until
sweat poured down our faces and we were sure we'd pass out. "Wanting to win and
wanting to be first, that's whatÔs important," the coaches told us. "Play fair,
but play to win," they said. They worked us harder and harder until we thought
we couldn't take it anymore and then they would yell and shout for us to keep
going and drive past all the physical pain and discomfort. "More! More!" they
screamed. "If you want to win, then you[Ôre going to have to work! You're
going to have to drive your bodies far beyond what you think you can do. You've
got to pay the price for victory! You can always go further than you think you
can."
Kovic wanted so much to be a hero, to be all of his heroes rolled up in
one. He would do anything to achieve that goal.
The way that Kovic writes this book makes it even more incredible. He
jumps around in his life, ...

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comparison with drill camp and the wrestling coach. He
gives a whole chapter to the drill sergeant yelling at them. It is an
incredible chapter, filled with do this and do that and grow up, be a man, mixed
thoughts, confused feelings and fear. It's one of the most moving chapters in
the book.
In everything he is confused about what to do next. While in the
marines he could never decide if he wanted to go back home or stay. He could
never decide whether or not he should go speak up about Vietnam. He could not
decide whether or not he wanted to get married. He is constantly trying to
become whatever it is he is to become. He knows he was kept alive for some
reason and he is ...

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