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Henry Junior is Lyman's older brother whose life is irrevocably changed by his experience in the Vietnam War. Henry Junior's character arc is marked by two phases: before the war, and after. Before the war, he is very similar to Lyman. Both boys are kind, adventurous, and good-humored. Their diverging experiences serve to illustrate just how much chance and circumstance can influence a person’s fate. The carefree summer of the red convertible occurs just before Henry Junior goes off to war and is the last time he is depicted expressing any kind of joy. After his experience in Vietnam, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Erdrich illustrates his mental anguish in heartrending detail. He becomes an angry, unstable, and anxious person who is detached from his family and everyday life. Most significantly, he is no longer interested in the red convertible he once loved. His mental health continues to decline as he is neglected by the country he sacrificed so much to serve. The erratic dance Henry Junior performs before jumping into the river communicates his fractured mental state. The scene makes it impossible to know whether his tragic death is intentional or not. The implication is that Henry Junior’s intentions are irrelevant, and the focus should instead be on the greatness of his pain.

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