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Nate Assavarungnirund
English 2 XL
Section 7

War Is Hell
Horst Faas photo, War Is Hell, captures the feelings that soldiers have towards warfare
and violence. The photo displays a young soldier from the Vietnam War wearing a helmet that
has the slogan, War is hell engraved in it. Although the soldier is sarcastically smiling, he is
tormented by what he has seen throughout war. The slogan War is hell became popular among
the soldiers throughout the Vietnam War. The soldiers experienced harsh living conditions and
brutal treatment. Furthermore, besides following orders, the soldiers had no real idea of why they
were fighting their enemies. These people were complete strangers, yet they were ordered to kill
one another. In addition, back at home, the government used propaganda to recruit young men to
enlist in the military. The propaganda made it seem as if war was necessary and a means of
achieving a higher social status. Thus, many young naive men decided to enlist in the military
because they believed that they were patriotic and fighting to save their country.
Faas photo contradicts the desirable inclination towards warfare that was presented by
the use of propaganda. The photo reveals the truth about the atrocities of war. Many people die
fighting for something they do not even believe in. Moreover, the soldiers experience terrible
living conditions and inhumane treatment from their superiors. It is poetic how this photo goes
against the government to show the awful truth of war. The propaganda used only covers up the
darkness of warfare. If society is constantly bombarded with false propaganda, people will
blindly enlist in the military. However, Faas wants to share the true opinions of the soldiers
fighting in wars. The soldiers fatigued state shows that war is indeed filled with pain and
anguish. Warfare is truly unpoetic because there is never a real winner. Even when one side

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wins, the loss of thousands of lives diminishes the feeling of triumph. There is never a true
winner of war.