To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War

by Jeff Shaara

Overlooked was that human nature had not evolved along with its machines. Humanity’s worst instincts—for conquest, domination, aggression, jealousy, and barbaric cruelty—would become plainly evident. The killing machines had improved as well.

Though Balsley had grown up in San Antonio, he was in fact from Pennsylvania, much to the delight of the squadron’s other Pennsylvanian, Bill Thaw.

As I read this I am flying from San Antonio to Pennsylvania .

“Blue Max.”

A motion picture titled THE BLUE MAX starring George Peppard is the story of a German pilot's quest for the medal.

In all of history, there is a constancy. Nations either progress or decay.

Humanity is governed by certain truths, and with all my soul I believe one of those truths to be that war is the natural state of mankind. We will conquer or we will die.”

Patton keeping himself stiffly upright, something Pershing encouraged in all his officers.

Every picture I've ever seen of Pershing displays this posture.

there is lethargy in Washington. It’s a disease that infects the comfortable.

Whoever believes patriotism is fuel enough is sadly misled.”

no one, not even the king himself, could hide from the fact that Kaiser Wilhelm was his first cousin, and was as close to the British chain of succession as George was himself.

This is just one example that affirms a comment about the war, that it was a family feud.

My kill. The words meant nothing to him, and he stared at the man’s body, felt no pride,

I am reminded of a saying repeated on the TV series KUNG FU, The taking of a life does no one honor.

if it was God’s decision to take your boy, He will not explain why, not to you, not to your priest.