Which discharge category does Leper receive from the army?

• A. General discharge
• B. Honorable discharge
• C. Section Eight discharge
• D. Medical discharge

Answer: (C)

Leper’s discharge category shows the army judged him unfit for duty due to mental instability, not because of physical injury or misconduct. In the story, after enlisting, Leper’s experiences and mounting anxiety lead to a breakdown, and the army assigns him a Section Eight discharge—an old WWII-era designation used for soldiers who were deemed psychologically unfit for service. This is different from an honorable discharge, which would reflect satisfactory service, or a medical discharge, which implies a physical illness or injury. The label Section Eight highlights that his departure from the army stems from mental health concerns, and it also underscores the novel’s exploration of how war unsettles young soldiers’ minds.