John Regan

My Father's War Stories: Mt. Battaglia to Quang Tri John Regan

My Father's War Stories is about the call to adventure heard from the battle fields of WW II a few years before the main character was born. As he grew up, his war hero father related tales of Silver Stars and Purple Hearts, telling of heroic deeds and ultimate victory where right finally prevailed over tyranny, saving the world from evil. Post-war prosperity glorified warfare on the silver screen with John Wayne always carrying the day. From ancient heroism to mayhem caused by German artillery barrages to the dark jungles of Vietnam, war seemed like a glorious and noble pursuit made to order for a young man's passion. Following the siren's song from his first battle at Split Rock, through conflicts using firearms and explosives in woodland fortresses, our character finally discovers in SoutheastAsia more than a decade later war is horror, not fun. Recent trends in Hollywood seem to indicate a policy reversal inthe development of war movies. Realistic portrayals of the true nature of armed conflict remove the romance and are less likely to lure nave young men into embracing the belief that participating in a war will be just like playing games in the backyard.