The soldiers and the journalists that were writing about it were very close to the action. They wrote about their experiences. Moreover, the Vietnam literature has no “escape hatches” (meaning we don't have comic relief, no moments of romance, and scant emphasis on coming-of-age energy). The primary goal was to make us feel like we were there.
Which of what is pathos ? is there supposed to be a picture ?
The preposition is "in front".