Charming Billy & PTSD

What was one trick Paul used to keep himself from thinking in Charming Billy?

• He talked to Buffalo and Billy Boy Watkins

• He named the stars in the sky.

• He remembered conversations with his father.

• He counted his steps and pretended each step was a dollar bill.

How was Billy Boy Watkins wounded?

• He was shot by the enemy.

• he stepped on a land mine.

• He fell out of the medevac helicopter

• He stumbled into a rice paddy.

What does the soldier keep accusing Paul of doing?

• Sleeping

• Chewing his gum loudly

• Making too much noise

• Daydreaming

Buffalo gets angry at Paul because

• Paul is a new recruit

• Paul keeps falling asleep

• Paul isn't paying attention to him

• Paul's giggling might draw attention

Why didn't Paul want to tell his father that he was scared?

• He didn't want his father to be worried.

• He was so afraid he was going to die.

• He didn't want him telling Paul's mother how he felt.

• He wanted his father to be proud of him.

According to Doc Peret, what caused Billy Boy Watkins to die of a heart attack?

• A bad heart to begin with

• The fear of dying

• Shrapnel in his heart

• Bad news from back home

Why can't Paul stop giggling at Billy Boy Watkin's death?

• Paul is scared, and the laughter becomes and emotional release.

• Paul did not like Billy Boy.

• Buffalo made a funny joke about the helicopter ride.

• Laughter reminded him of Billy Boy.

Paul pretended he was somewhere else because

• he was afraid

• He was bored

• He knew there were booby traps on the path

• Then the other soldiers would think he was sleeping

What does the sea represent in the story?

• A new life

• Death and danger

• Safety and security

• An end to the war

What is the significance of the song lyric, "Where have you gone, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, oh where have you gone, charming Billy?"

• it was a popular song on the base.

• It was a song Paul sang with his father while camping.

• It was sung by some of the soldiers searching for Billy Boy's body.

• The other soldiers taught Paul the song on his first day in the war.