The story of how Alvin lost his leg is not one tinged with heroism or bravery. Alvin instead showed incompetence, pettiness, and vindictiveness as he maimed a German soldier, killed him, and then spit in his face as an act of superiority and disdain—only to get distracted and blown up in the process. Though going to war was an act of solidarity from the outside, it seems as if Alvin sought to release anger and his own personal fear and hatred while fighting abroad.