Quote 1
"Like a trip to friggin' hell," Monaco said.
"No, man, this is like the projects in Chicago," Peewee said. "The police can't protect your ass from the muggers and s***, and the muggers don't protect your ass from the police." (14.120-121)
Because Peewee has lived in poverty, he gets what the Vietnamese villagers are going through more than the other soldiers do. They're basically stuck in the crossfire of gang warfare. Kind of a reminder that huge, violent problems aren't limited to an official war zone—they're happening back at home, too. It's a bit of a downer.
Quote 2
Later Monaco heard from Sergeant Simpson that Captain Stewart got us out of it.
"You can't get a body count on a pacification run," Monaco said. (9.75-76)
Stewart is after one thing: body count. That might mean more free time for the platoon in the short term, but not going on pacification missions also means they'll only see Vietnamese in one way: as the enemy.
Quote 3
We went over to where Monaco was squatting with a bottle of soda. Monaco looked up, then he stood and threw both arms around me and hugged me. It really touched me. I thought I was going to cry.
"I'm sorry you're back," he said. "But I'm real glad to see you, man. Real glad." (17.24-25)
Last time Monaco saw Perry, Perry was wounded. Monaco's too happy that Perry is okay to act tough. Cute, right?