Why did Mitchell sanders mail lice?

In Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried," Mitchell Sanders mails lice to demonstrate the absurdity and randomness of war. It serves as a tangible reminder of the dehumanizing and chaotic nature of combat, reflecting the soldiers' coping mechanisms and their attempts to find meaning in their experiences. The lice symbolize the burdens and discomforts of war, highlighting how soldiers often cling to strange artifacts as a way to process their trauma.