The NYT published an obituary for an American man of letters: Paul Fussell, age 88. He died of natural causes in Medford, Oregon in May, 2012. He spent a number of his retirement years in Portland, OR before moving to a care facility in Medford.
In brief, he was a native Californian,, born in Pasedena. He went to Pomona College for 2 years then joined the Army during WW II. He missed the Normandy landings, but fought across Europe. He was wounded twice, and received a Bronze Star for his actions.
He returned to school on the GI Bill, eventually receiving a PhD. from Harvard. He then began teaching at the college level. He also began writing, using literary criticism as his topic initially. But after a few years, his focus returned to his war experience and his later writings focused on a variety of related topics. His most famous title," The Great War and Modern Memory" launched his career as a literary writer of important stature. Historians credit him with creating a new method of looking at post war literature related to the battle experience. He continued writing in this vain and enhanced his own reputation.
His work could be classified as anti-war; but also as anti -war romanticism, which he declared was part of government's continued glorification of men-at-arms. He taught for many years, and was a respected professor of English and history.
His published titles are numerous and impressive in their depth and scope of topics. He will be read by many for a long time to come.
He fought as an Army lieutenant barely 21 years old, a very impressionable age. He earned a combat infantryman's badge, that blue badge with raised silver long rifle, given to a mere 10% of army personnel. He had two children and left his wife of many years.
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