Joy and Hate

The news was magnificent, and it flowed in a full tide.

The first flush of elation over U.S. landings in Africa had hardly died when the Navy told of smashing the Jap in the Solomons. Never before had the full realization of global war been hammered home so hard in one week—and out of the bitter fighting America had a new pride in itself.

Global war no longer meant merely scattering troops to the ends of the earth; it now meant fighting bitter, agonizing battles 14,000 miles apart against full enemy forces. This was it: meeting the enemy face to face,...