Shell Shock | National Geographic

Samuel Funes platoon is at rest for a

Samuel Funes platoon is at rest for a short while among cows and prisoners

short while among cows and prisoners

short while among cows and prisoners under apple trees the men wash for the

under apple trees the men wash for the

under apple trees the men wash for the first time in two weeks

I spot a young soldier reading some book

I spot a young soldier reading some book and the title on the cover that’s the

and the title on the cover that’s the

and the title on the cover that’s the first published copy of my novel I’ve

first published copy of my novel I’ve

first published copy of my novel I’ve ever seen

ever seen

ever seen I only yearn for one thing to survive

I only yearn for one thing to survive

I only yearn for one thing to survive that goddamn war and keep on writing

that goddamn war and keep on writing

that goddamn war and keep on writing Samuel fuller will later become a

Samuel fuller will later become a

Samuel fuller will later become a filmmaker and the shell-shocked men he’s

filmmaker and the shell-shocked men he’s

filmmaker and the shell-shocked men he’s encountered will leave a permanent mark

encountered will leave a permanent mark

encountered will leave a permanent mark on his life

on his life

on his life exhaustion anxiety and stress lead to

exhaustion anxiety and stress lead to

exhaustion anxiety and stress lead to multiple desertions and thousands of

multiple desertions and thousands of

multiple desertions and thousands of self-inflicted injuries

the British and American men who suffer

the British and American men who suffer emotional breakdowns worry the High

emotional breakdowns worry the High

emotional breakdowns worry the High Command who have psychiatrists step in

one of these soldiers is unable to speak

one of these soldiers is unable to speak in tears he writes I have killed a

in tears he writes I have killed a

in tears he writes I have killed a German took him out with the butt of my

German took him out with the butt of my

German took him out with the butt of my rifle he was a nice little kid with

rifle he was a nice little kid with

rifle he was a nice little kid with loved ones back home I’ll tell my fiance

loved ones back home I’ll tell my fiance

loved ones back home I’ll tell my fiance that I’m a murderer and yet I have

that I’m a murderer and yet I have

that I’m a murderer and yet I have always rejected violence

always rejected violence

always rejected violence you