The Servitude for Truth

My paper is basically about how the truth about soldiers in war should be released and that they should be honored for their accomplishments rather than just their death. In Dulce Et Decorum Est, by Wilfred Owen states,”In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.” (Owen, 1974) Owens describes how a soldier fails to put on his gas mask in time to save him from drowning in his own vomit but dies from suffocating from the gas attack on his fellow men. The soldier that failed to apply his gas mask in time dies from a non-noble act of war and could have been prevented if warned in time. Even though the event of his death is not a heroic act, he should still be recognized for honoring his country and his patriotism. Owens writes,” My friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory, the old lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” (Owen, 1974) This soldier's death story was told of the “old lie”, which is told about all soldiers that die in war, that it is sweet and honorable to die for one's country. His death was not honorable of his country or sweet but tragic from dying by simply suffocating. Most armies do not release death information of a soldier to the public or even the soldier's family. It should be the right of at least the family to know how he died or at least obtainable upon request. It is not fair to leave the family wondering what happened to their beloved soldier. Some armies tell family members when a soldier dies that he or she could not be found, when in reality they are alive, dead, or being held captive making the family believe that they are basically dead. This is a false truth or as the army and Owen calls it, “the old lie.”