JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN by Dalton Trumbo

Why didn't I come upon this novel during the Vietnam years? Not only one of the best anti-war novels, but so imaginative, so sad, so perfectly written from the perspective that War is Hell. What other perspective is there when it comes to war? Published in 1939, written by Dalton Trumbo, it is about a soldier who has lost everything in The War To End All Wards; everything that is but his mind. Reminds me of the Clancy brother's song Johnny I Hardly Knew You. (Thank you Jeanne Lafferty.)

I stumbled upon this novel in a seventh period World History class taught by Mr. Jarze. On Veteran's Day all the history teachers were obliged to do something to explain the meaning of this holiday. Mr. Jarze chose a reading from this novel, and an accompanying video featuring Metallica using this novel as inspiration for their song.

When it comes to war there are two works we all should read before supporting it, becoming part of it, and before deciding to "just let it happen, since what can we do?"
The first is this novel, Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.
The other is Howard Zinn's Peoples' History of The United States," or if you're not a reader Google his wonderful speech entitled Holy Wars.
That's all ye know on earth about war, and all ye need to know.
Pardon the paraphrase, Mr. Keats.