United States Marine Corps

Professional Reading Program

FORGOTTEN SOLDIER

1. Identify the author’s mission (task and purpose) in writing this book.

The author (Guy Sajer) had a twofold mission for his work; The foremost is that he has ensured
that the future generations that read his memoir will never forget that war truly is hell and no one
should have the idea of romanticizing it or having the impression it’s just an adventure for glory.
The second and certainly less pressing matter is the desire to be a voice for so many soldiers that
refused or simply couldn’t talk and share their experiences. He makes a point to try and be a voice
for so many millions that couldn’t speak, so he tries to do so respectfully and honorably for them.

2. What part of the book was the most effective in accomplishing the author’s mission?

The most effective part of this book that truly drove home his mission, was ensuring he brought no
sense of glory to himself in describing his actions while amplifying the terrible sense of loss and
emotional distraught over losing friends and brothers in arms in the most horrific ways. He really
drives it home for a final effect when covering the fatal effects of the allied terror bombing
campaign on German cities.

3. What does the author assume to be true in order to accomplish his mission? Does the
author validate these assumptions in the book?

The author assumes the reader is interested in combat and what it is like; he then goes out of his
way repeatedly to give great detail of the combat to validate his mission to take away the
romanticism and glory of it and show it in its true form. The consistent vivid revelations of the fate
of his friends and comrades is tough reading to say the least, particularly when one can relate in
any way from their own experience.

4. The part of the book that is most relevant to what I / we do is:

The most relevant part of this book that I relate to is the total dedication and devotion to his
brothers in arms. Sajer opens up frequently in the latter half of the book of how he realizes he was
a disillusioned youth when he first joined the cause against Communist Soviet Union, he admits
and accepts defeat is inevitable as do his comrades. They however continue to fight on, not for “the
cause” but for each other, even though he himself feels like an outsider for being French. This is
relevant because I have personally felt this exact same way, and I know many of my brothers have
as well.

United States Marine Corps

Professional Reading Program
FORGOTTEN SOLDIER
5. Identify the author’s specific and implied conclusions.
The author’s desire is to convey the horror of war, something many Marines in today’s Corps
have not experienced and do not understand, something all of us who have were once like. "The
war seemed to have turned me into a monster of indifference, a man without feelings. I was still
three months short of eighteen, but felt at least thirty-five. Now that I have reaches that age, I
know better. Peace has brought me many pleasures, but nothing as powerful as the passion for
surviving in wartime, that faith in love, and that sense of absolutes. It often strikes me with horror
that peace is really extremely monotonous. During the terrible moments of war one longs for
peace with a passion that is painful to bear. But in peacetime one should never, even for an
instant, long for war!"(pg, 288)

6. With respect to the author’s conclusions (either specified or implied), I / we accept or

agree with the following:

I agree with the authors conclusions entirely; The future generations should be remised if they are
to forget these experiences and plunge man into another experience of such total war between
such two irreconcilable foes and world views. We obey orders and the mission comes first in our
line of work just like it was and did for the author, however at the same point in time woe to those
who choose to have their countrymen shed their blood in vain.

7. This book made a favorable impression on me and it will change the way I approach my
Marines:

This book will change the way I approach my Marines in the fact I understand their desire for
combat. We unfortunately in our line of work need 18 year old young men that want to
experience the trial of combat. What I try, and this has only reinforced my resolve in it, is drive
home the realism of what they are getting into. Too often we share experiences of the good war
stories, where the bad guys loose and the good guys win. Sometimes it will do more to mentally
prepare your Marines in your charge and care by sharing the really bad days, the days you don’t
want to talk about…the days Guy Sajer had way too many of, The Forgotten Soldier.