What is the conflict of the novel?

I think that man vs society, or in this case war, is the main conflict. In The Yellow Birds, war is repeatedly characterized as a living, breathing being that hunts those involved within it. The first notable personification of war occurs on page 3: “While we slept, the war rubbed its thousand ribs against the ground in prayer. When we pressed onward through exhaustion, its eyes were white and open in the dark. While we ate, the war fasted, fed by its own deprivation. It made love and gave birth and spread through fire.” This quote describes war as ritualistic, savage, and sinister, a description we will continually see supported by events throughout the novel. For example, several important characters fall prey to war, either physically or psychologically. These characters include Daniel Murphy, Sergeant Sterling, and, to some extent, John Bartle. Through this personification, Kevin Powers manages to convey the enormous toll that war can take on an individual.