This moment also foreshadows Carroll's own tragic death later in the novel. Jenkins is the first soldier whose death Perry witnesses, and Lieutenant Carroll guides him through the grief. By calling the fallen soldiers 'angels,' Carroll acknowledges the tragedy of war, this one in particular. The image of an angel is pure, innocent, and untouched - like the nervous, fidgety Jenkins himself. Politicians (grown, educated men) have determined the necessity of the mission while these boys are risking their lives to fulfill it. Society does not deem them ready to participate in democracy but asks them to put their lives on the line for a vaguely outlined cause. It introduces the theme of lost innocence by putting the soldiers' youth and inexperience into context. Lieutenant Carroll says this line after Jenkins's death.

Most of you aren’t old enough to vote yet.' - Lieutenant Carroll, pg. Because usually they get boys to fight wars. 'My father used to call all soldiers angel warriors. This quotation comes early on in the novel foreshadows the fact that Perry's Vietnam experience will ultimately provide more questions than answers. He thinks that joining the army will be a way to delay making these difficult decisions about his future, as it is a structured environment where someone else will always be telling Perry what to do and where to be.

Most of the people he has grown up with expect him to go to college, which his family is not able to afford. Richie Perry's motivation to enter the army is less about fighting for a cause and more of a way for him to escape making a decision about his future. I wasn’t, and the army was the place I was going to get away from all the questions.' - Richie Perry, pg.

All the other guys in the neighborhood thought I was going to college. 'My plans, maybe just my dreams really, had been to go to college, and to write like James Baldwin.

Fallen angels walter dean