Eighth Air Force - A poem by Randall Jarrell

Comment 2 of 2, added on October 24th, 2005 at 12:36 PM.

Addendum to first comment: I find that Jarrell's imagery interacts consistently from one poem to the other. After reading my comments on "Eighth Air Force," I realized that I had cited lines from "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" - I can't separate the two - they deliver the impact of being in a position of vulnerability.

Sarah M. Blasius from United States

Comment 1 of 2, added on October 24th, 2005 at 12:12 PM.

I am "brainstorming" a feature article that I am (imminently) going to write for the local newspaper - it is part of a series on W.W.II veterans. Paradoxically, the series is entitled "Unsung Heroes" - each of the 23 persons I have interviewed thus far deny the title of "hero." They tell me, "I'm not a hero - just an ordinary man doing what I had to do." Perhaps some justification for their denial comes from an innate apprehension of the dilemna posed in Jarrell's poem, the "had to do" being imposed by Jarrell' image of the State. The possible imminence of death, as experienced by the ball turret gunner I have just interviewed is an essential part of his story - the suspension from the belly of a bomber, ostensibly with no connection with tangible reality (except as Jarrell described, "...black flak and the nightmare fighters...," the gunner is validating Jarrell's image of the terrifying exit from the womb to the unknown existence awaiting him - possible death. The imagery reflects the impact of my subject's recall of his near-death experience, his response to his fear as he bailed out of the doomed aircraft.

Sarah M. Blasius from United States

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