Fallen Angels

by

Walter Dean Myers

The People’s Army of Vietnam, also known as the Northern Vietnamese Army (NVA) was the army which supported the communist government of North Vietnam after Vietnam gained independence from France. Although the NVA and the Vietcong were distinct entities, they both aimed to overthrow the Southern Vietnamese government and they worked together closely during the Vietnam War.

NVA Quotes in Fallen Angels

The Fallen Angels quotes below are all either spoken by NVA or refer to NVA. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
War, Trauma, and Dehumanization Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

“You call that a sport?” Monaco asked. “I mean, there you are, you gotta weigh two hundred pounds, and you got a rifle, and you’re against a squirrel that weighs maybe two or three pounds, and he ain’t got nothing.”

“Man, it’s a damn sport!” Simpson protested […]

“The way I figure it,” Monaco went on, “if you hunt a squirrel with a rifle, what do you hunt a bear with? Artillery?”

“Call in some white phosphorous on him,” Brew said. “That’ll get his attention until the jets zero in.”

[…]

“You don’t know nothing about no hunting!” Simpson was getting pissed. “You don’t know what hunting is!”

“What he’s trying to say […] is that the white phosphorous is enough. After it burns the bear’s ass off, then the good sergeant will finish him off with a couple of frag grenades,” [said Lobel].

[…] Sergeant Simpson got up and left the hooch.

Related Characters: Monaco (speaker), Lobel (speaker), Simpson (speaker), Brewster (Brew) (speaker), Richie Perry
Page Number: 49-50
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

The mortar shells landed behind us. They were long again. Long but walking. They had spotters who saw where the shells were landing, and who were directing the fire. They kept shortening up the range to get closer and closer to us. And the shells were coming fast.

The noise was terrible. Every time a mortar went off, I jumped. I couldn’t help myself. The noise went into you. It touched parts of you that were small and frightened and wanting your mommy. Being away from the fighting had weakened my stamina. It did even more to my nerves. I was shaking. I had to force myself to keep my eyes open.

Related Characters: Richie Perry (speaker)
Page Number: 243-244
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Fallen Angels LitChart as a printable PDF.
Fallen Angels PDF

NVA Term Timeline in Fallen Angels

The timeline below shows where the term NVA appears in Fallen Angels. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 11
War, Trauma, and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Reality and Fiction Theme Icon
...die alone in the jungle. He says he belongs to the Second Division of the North Vietnamese Army . The idea that army units, not just guerrilla bands, are active so far south... (full context)
War, Trauma, and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Perseverance and Heroism Theme Icon
Before Perry leaves HQ, an orderly casually comments that the NVA soldier probably thinks that the Americans plan to torture him the same way the VC... (full context)
Chapter 19
War, Trauma, and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Perseverance and Heroism Theme Icon
Race, Identity, and Belonging Theme Icon
Reality and Fiction Theme Icon
...grenade launchers and human screams. Suddenly, Alpha and Charlie companies stumble onto a platoon of NVA soldiers in a clearing. As the Americans open fire, Perry disassociates again. (full context)