One of the parodoxes of war is that those in the rear want to get up into the fight, while those in the lines want to get out.

[I]nstead of the usual "Why can't we make movies more like real life?" I think a more pertinent question is "Why can't real life be more like the movies?"

If I can just see the European war out I think I might feel justified in quitting the war.

The closest fires were near enough for us to hear the crackling flames and the yells of firemen. Little fires grew into big ones even as we watched. Big ones died down under the firemen's valor only to break out again later.

I've been immersed in it too long. My spirit is wobbly and my mind is confused. The hurt has become too great.

For me war has become a flat, black depression without highlights, a revulsion of the mind and an exhaustion of the spirit.

Marines have a cynical approach to war. They believe in three things; liberty, payday and that when two Marines are together in a fight, one is being wasted. Being a minority group militarily, they are proud and sensitive in their dealings with other military organizations. A Marine's concept of a perfect battle is to have other Marines on the right and left flanks, Marine aircraft overhead and Marine artillery and naval gunfire backing them up.