Subtitled A history of courage, sacrifice and brotherhood; at first this appears to be a glorification of war and the soldier's work. But it is more than that. Darren Moore has dared to look at the basic questions of morality and responsibility for war from the soldier's point of view.
There are hundreds of first hand accounts telling of action in war from soldiers in the UK, France, Japan, USA, Canada, Italy, Russia, Australia, Israel and Germany across a time line stretching from the Napoleonic wars to the current global war on terror. It tells the story of soldiers from their basic training to the battlefield and finally their discharge - or death.
Many pay the ultimate price. Why do they do this? How can a soldier walk into battle expecting to kill or be killed? What motivates them? Darren Moore knows what he is writing about as he served in the Australian army for seventeen years rising to the rank of major experiencing stints in Papua New Guinea and East Timor as well as with the US Army.
This is not light reading. It is a hefty volume running to over 400 pages. It requires time to think and digest information before turning to the next chapter. Well written and researched, it is a detailed study of what makes a soldier.
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