The Compassionate Soldier

It is common to hear about the inhumanity of man during war. News reports give us atrocious details of the suffering and misery inflicted by war. That's what makes Jerry Borrowman's book The Compassionate Soldier so refreshing. In the midst of so many unpleasant stories, Borrowman has collected a few shining examples of men and women who stand out in history.

Every chapter in the book was good, but I will only highlight a couple. The first is Sergeant Richard Kirkland, a soldier in the Confederate Army. After a particularly difficult battle (especially for the Union soldiers), both sides were subjected to the tormented cries of the wounded on the battlefield. Finally, Sergeant Kirkland could stand it no longer and, after obtaining permission from the general, entered the field with as many canteens as he could carry and began attending to the wounded on both sides of the war. The Union soldiers were so startled that nobody fired a shot, and they began cheering when they saw what he was doing. Sergeant Kirkland made several trips, with gunfire ceasing on both sides every time his head emerged, until he had cared for every soldier on the battlefield. What an amazing story of compassion!

Another incredible story took place during World War II. Major General Dietrich von Choltitz of the Germany army was originally fiercely loyal to Adolf Hitler. He slaughtered enemies, and led his own men to the slaughter all to accomplish whatever Hitler ordered. That is what makes his story so remarkable. Towards the end of the war, Hitler placed von Choltitz Paris, which was Hitler's most-prized victory in the war. With the Allied troops gaining ground, Hitler ordered the major general to blow up the entire city if it seemed like the Nazis would not be able to keep it. The Furher cared nothing for the cultural treasures of the city that would be lost.

Von Choltitz, on the other hand, recognized that such destruction was nothing more than a vindictive move, and would be a tragedy if carried out. However, he also knew that if he did not carry out his orders, he and his family would be in grave danger and be seen as traitors. He had all intentions of being faithful to his orders, even placing the bombs strategically around the city. As uprisings began happening, he realized that he would very soon have to execute Hitler's orders. In a meeting with Raoul Nordling, the Swedish consul in France, von Choltitz asked him to get word to the Allies. In a traitorous move, he asked for the Allies to help him save Paris. Despite many last-minute telegrams and messages ordering him to destroy the city as the Allies descended upon it, von Choltitz felt a greater need to serve humanity, rather than the insane dictator.

There are so many more stories like this in the book. Anybody who likes to read true, less-known war stories would enjoy Borrowman's work.