Bob Rasmus, rifleman
This story analyzes how WWII simultaneously caused a transformation in America as a country and each citizen. At home, while the Great Depression was coming to an end people began to focus on wartime production. Our young men, like Bob Rasmus, began to prepare for the invasion of Europe. Bob’s story helps explain the fast amount of growth that happened within each soldier during this difficult time period. One common theme throughout the piece is that he laughs after making several serious comments. This is not nervous laughter, rather an examination of just how far he came in such a short period of time. Also interesting to note is how society changes during wartime, especially within the military. Rasmus examines how soldiers acted heroically not for a specific reason, but rather because of the “Band of Brothers” spirit in which they did not want to let their friends down. Rasmus also analyzes the difference between the propaganda posters and films, and the real life war. While at home all Germans and Japanese were shown to be evil, Rasmus points out that most of them were just young men just like him. When these men came back home, America had been re-born from the Great Depression into a successful industrial country while the Europe and Asia were left in shambles. Lastly laments on the fact that WWII left a legacy on America which shifted our mentality towards a “world-policeman” such as in Korea and Vietnam.
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