Yeah, it is mainly just a somewhat sombre character piece on a group of friends going off to war, as opposed to being in the war together(apart from that one scene). Showing the war's effect on a small community.
It is a good movie, it's just not a war movie. I love DeNiro's character 'The Deer Hunter', and I love that scene where they all go hunting, John Cazale forgets to bring his hiking boots, and DeNiro refuses to lend him his spare boots, 'No...this is this!' really funny.
It is a good character study on someone who has hidden depths, that are brought out when he is put under extreme circumstances. I have it on dvd, but it's long sombre movie, so i don't feel like putting it on much.