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Originally Posted by pgardn
but many still feel somehow that they are fighting for American freedoms
The soldiers I have contact with do not feel this way. They get through the mess by having small defined missions that they still try and carry out, and most importantly of all, they fight for each other. There is a huge sense of brotherhood based on keeping your unit intact and alive... while attempting to accomplish a mission. They try and stay alive for EACH OTHER while carrying out some goal. I got the very strong feeling that they live for each other. An overwhelming sense of working together while staying alive.
My take from soldiers over there, and those that were over in Iraq and are now back here. Sample size of 4 people.
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Pgardn,
Interesting that this thread took the direction of going towards soldiers' motivations. I did post grad research on this topic, and I sure hope Somerfrost chimes in.
So, what drives a soldier to participate in a charge against well positioned forces as so many did during the Civil War? Or so many to "go over the top" and venture into no-man's land during WWI? Or be the first to jump out when the amphibious landing hit the shore at Normandy in WW II? Or...
Gosh! I could go on and on.
There really is commonality, and it has little to do with "patriotism", thoughts of freedom, or most of the other BS that the populace is fed that they're fighting for. The motivation that they put their lives on the sacrificial altar of war has nothing, absolutely NOTHING to do with the reasons that are given by those that initate the battles in which they die.
The truth is that they feel loyalty to their comrades, their "brothers". The mission comes down to "I don't want to disappoint them, nor do I expect them to disappoint me."
Pgardn, you got it right, "They try to stay alive for each other while carrying out some goal."
Bottom line, the goal is mutual survival, and nothing more.
For further reading:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/...e_of_atrocity/