Americans know the Iraq War as a war against terror. The Iraq War is full of controversy because the Bush administration lied about numerous things, the most significant being the report that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. As Fountain, the author of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk claims, most of the citizens only know a few things about the war like “terrRist…freedom…evil…nina leven…Sod’m…dih-mock-cruh-see.”[1] However, soldiers returning home faced more problems than terrorists and evil. They faced an enemy they could not shoot with a rifle, that enemy being post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, there are multiple other issues stemming from it that make things worse. The main question composed by Sebastian Junger, an American journalist who went on a tour with Marines, is why do veterans miss war? This is a valid question because they witness so many vile things during war, it does not make any sense that they would miss any of it. Since most of the twenty-first century has been consumed by war, soldiers’ stories teach historians what life was like during the early twenty-first century. The amended question I attempt to answer is why do soldiers miss fighting in the Iraq War? There are several reasons, but alienation, broken relationships, adrenaline, and comradery are going to be the main focus.
It is peculiar that soldiers would miss war at all, but when the “new normal,” as Stockton puts it, is “violence, death and war,”[2] it makes the soldiers’ perspective a little easier to understand. Alienation and broken relationships are very common among soldiers who have returned home and they struggle to adjust to civilian life. According to one Iraqi War veteran, “’People don’t understand what you feel,’” and unfortunately, “’it might lead to isolation.’”[3] It is impossible to move on from war when people in society cannot understand, or begin to fathom, what soldiers go through on a day to day basis. Another veteran said “when you’re sound asleep and the whole world around you just explodes, I mean how do you explain that to somebody?”[4] Most Americans will never understand what, or why, soldiers do what they do in combat, so there is an automatic sense of loneliness and alienation. A perfect example of this is when Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) James goes home and his ex-wife ignores him when he tries to talk about his experience in the war.[5] Phillip Carter, another veteran of the Iraq War, claims “There’s this profound sense of alienation that you feel when you come home from war”[6] because nobody understands why they act the way they do and this has led to many broken relationships. Broken relationships are grouped with alienation because one can cause the other. According to Stockman, “Deployment often leads to divorce.”[7] SSgt. James from The Hurt Locker is divorced, or at least he thinks he is, which he might as well be because his wife does not support him.[8] He also tells his baby that the only thing he loves is war.[9] Yet another example of alienation resulting in broken relationships is Specialist (Spc.) Lynn’s relationship with everyone in his family, especially his father. His sister, Kathryn, is the only one he seems to get along with and it appears the only reason for it is because he finds her attractive. Through his two days at home, he spends most of his time alone, which shows he only feels comfortable with himself and feels alienated by his family.
Adrenaline rushes and addiction are another reason why soldiers miss fighting in Iraq. The Hurt Locker opens with a quote from Chris Hedges that helps historians understand why soldiers are addicted to war. He claims, “The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.”[10] Sergeant (Sgt.) Sanborn believes SSgt. James is crazy and an adrenaline junkie when James because of his reckless actions on their first mission together. Spc. Lynn from Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk also shows signs of getting an adrenaline fix from battle. Whenever fans at Cowboy Stadium ask him about his heroic efforts in Al-Ansakar Canal, he does not remember them and he alludes to his training and describes it as “this sort of road rage feeling…I really wasn’t thinking at all.” However, it might have been because his adrenaline level was so high that he was extremely focused on taking care of Shroom, who died in his arms. Men, especially young soldiers, are prone to being addicted to adrenaline, which is why men tend to do stupid things to feel the adrenaline high. In lieu of combat, soldiers that return home tend to abuse alcohol, get in traffic accidents and other stupid things to “blow off steam.”[11] Soldiers desire that taste of adrenaline, which is why they return to the battlefield.
Perhaps the main reason why soldiers miss the war is because of the comradery. In combat, soldiers develop a brotherhood, a bond that is stronger than any other. Junger defines brotherhood as a “mutual agreement in a group that you will put the safety of the group above your own” and that a brotherhood is completely different from a friendship that develops in society because it doesn’t matter how you feel about the other person.[12] These men go through hell and back with one another, so it is easy to see how these bonds are so powerful. The dialogs between Spc. Lynn and his squad members, especially Spc. Montoya, or Mango, make it clear that they are extremely close. The love between the squad members in The Hurt Locker: SSgt. James, Sgt. Sanborn, and Spc. Eldridge, also show how strong comradery is. They struggled at first, but once they went through a few missions together, they realized how much they need one another to succeed. During the middle of the movie, the three-man squad are shown drinking, punching one another out of fun, and talking about their lives. Having this strong of a bond can be amazing, because no level of relationship can compare. Unfortunately, when soldiers come home, “not knowing who they can count on, not knowing who love them, who they can love,” can be “terrifying” beyond belief.[13] This fear is enough to get soldiers to volunteer for another tour because they need to feel the love that comes from a brotherhood.
The Iraqi War teaches historians a lot about the twenty-first century. Soldiers’ testimonies are a valuable resource on what their life was like during and after the war. Their testimonies also explain why it is hard to come home and why they go back to war even though they suffer through unspeakable things. When they experience alienation, broken relationships, adrenaline addiction, and a very strong relationship that is rivaled by none at war, it is easy to understand why they feel uncomfortable being home with loved ones. It also helps explain why a lot of veterans go into law enforcement because it is the closest thing to combat in today’s society. The Hurt Locker and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk are just a few examples of how difficult life can be for veterans and why they choose to fight.
[1] Ben Fountain. Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. New York: Ecco, 2012. 2, 38
[2] Halle Stockton. “Troops Returning to Face More Struggles Back Home.” PublicSource. April 15, 2012. Accessed May 15, 2015.
[3] Ibid.
[4] “POV.” PBS. Accessed May 14, 2015. http://www.pbs.org/pov/waywegetby/video_classroom2.php#.VVY7v_lVhBd
[5] The Hurt Locker. Universal Studios Home Entertainment, 2008. DVD.
[6] Karl Vick and Olivia B. Waxman. 2014. “Life After War.” Time 184, no. 19: 46-55. Military & Government Collection, EBSCOhost
[7] Stockton. “Troops Returning to Face More Struggles Back Home.”
[8] The Hurt Locker.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] James Dao. “After Combat, the Unexpected Perils of Coming Home.” The New York Times. May 28, 2011.
[12] Sebastian Junger, TED Talk, January 2014. New York.
[13] Ibid.
Living History 