Perry and Johnson object to Brunner’s casual, almost thoughtless theft because they acknowledge the villagers’ humanity. The episode of the salves further humanizes the Vietnamese people, both as a reminder of shared humanity (all people fall sick at times and need medicines) and by generating bonds between the women and the soldiers. In general, as Johnson, Peewee, Perry and Carroll show, people are more inclined to empathy and helping each other out than to violence. But prolonged exposure to conflict makes Brunner suspicions.