Throughout history generations of young men have fought in wars started by old men. There is no experience other than combat that makes a more lasting or life changing impression on a man or woman. The majority who have seen the battlefield saw combat before their 25th birthday, and many who did never got to celebrate that anniversary. Those who do come back are forever changed. Krebs in Hemmingway's "Soldier's Home" for instance. Novels of war are best written by those who served. Boyd saw combat in WWI and although the face of war has changed in many ways since this novel was written, the bottom line hasn't. Dead is dead, fear is fear. As a Vietnam veteran my stomach was often in knots reading Boyd's vivid descriptions of a "Grunt's" view of his battles fought in WWI. I was also reminded of the fine line between going home alive or dead. Another foot to the right, and the mine would have gone off under me.
