His "War" was deservedly a bestseller, and his and co-director Tim Hetherington's documentary "Restrepo" was deservedly nominated for an Oscar. His short new book of four essays could have similar impact because of his prominence in literary and veterans circles — and because of his message.
"Tribe" laments the lack of one.
"Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary," which might explain why as early as the 18th century, "a surprising number" of Americans "wound up joining Indian society rather than staying in their own," the subject of the first chapter.
Military Times readers will likely find the last three parts particularly pertinent. Junger explores how disaster — from the London Blitz to Bosnia — unites participants.
"If war were purely and absolutely bad in every single aspect and toxic in all its effects, it would probably not happen as often as it does." Ironically, war also "inspires ancient human virtues of courage, loyalty, and selflessness that can be utterly intoxicating to the people who experience them."
But the euphoria can lead to disappointment. "Part of the trauma of war seems to be giving it up" when troops come home. "They realize that the tribe they were actually fighting for wasn’t their country, it was their unit."
Their country "is often accused of being disconnected from its military, but frankly it’s disconnected from just about everything." And the civilian-military disconnect is perpetuated by "formulaic phrases" of gratitude and by "honoring veterans at sporting events, allowing them to board planes first, or giving them minor discounts at stores.
"If anything, these token acts only deepen the chasm." Ex-combatants "shouldn’t be seen — or be encouraged to see themselves — as victims," and a perpetual Veterans Affairs benefit "risks turning veterans into a victim class that is entirely dependent on the government for their livelihood."
Such divisions are dangerous for a society that ought to include rather than exclude, and politicians do harm "when they spew venomous rhetoric about their rivals."
"Reviling people you share a combat outpost with is an incredibly stupid thing to do, and public figures who imagine their nation isn’t, potentially, one huge combat post are deluding themselves."
J. Ford Huffman is a Military Times book reviewer.
