A sobering chronicle of war as well as a tribute to soldiers' perseverance in the face of its horrors that draws upon soldiers' memoirs, psychological studies, and oral histories to show that - regardless of the enemy, terrain, training, or weaponry - combat soldiers' wartime experiences remain fundamentally the same. Publisher Fact Sheet. Annotation. Kindsvatter takes readers inside the minds of soldiers from World War I through Vietnam, revealing what motivated them to serve, how they dealt with danger and hardship, the roles of comradeship, leadership, and belief in cause and country. The study uses memoirs, oral histories, psychological studies, and fiction to show that the wartime experiences of American soldiers are essentially the same regardless of enemy, terrain, training, weaponry, or era.

Included in the U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Professional Reading List, 2004.

Rallying to the flag -- Environment of war -- Immersion in the environment -- Coping with the environment of war -- Comrades and country -- Failing to cope with the environment of war -- Joys of war -- Closing with the enemy -- Leadership in combat -- Dwellers beyond the environment of war -- Equal opportunity in the foxhole -- Conclusion: Don't expect too much from war -- Bibliography -- Index.