The Last Parallel, by Martin Russ – 1957 (1958) [Robert Emil Schulz]


In a fire fight, or any type of severe combat, time is indistinguishable.
I may have remained immobile for minutes or only seconds.
It was an enormous effort to move anything but my eyes;
limbs were leaden as in a nightmare, and the old fear took hold.
It is difficult to describe this state, terror.

Physical terror I mean.

It is a rare emotion in this age.
Every soldier that has been in combat must have felt it.
The immediate problem is to overcome it as quickly as possible.
If he cannot, he ceases to function as soldier. (264)

– Martin Russ