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A review by travellingcari
Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery: Where War Comes Home by Robert M. Poole
5.0
I was first introduced to Poole's writing through [b:On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery|8525353|On Hallowed Ground The Story of Arlington National Cemetery|Robert M. Poole|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348812546s/8525353.jpg|7164701] which I read while visiting Arlington earlier this year. This newer title focuses on the Veterans laid to rest in Section 60, primarily those who didn't survive Iraq, Afghanistan and other recent conflicts-whether they died in combat, in a training accident, from PTSD or other causes. Like with Hallowed Ground, Poole's writing brings these subjects to live - their stories and their families keep them alive. By the end of the sections about them, I felt as if I knew Rusty Rippletoe, Toz, Ben Kopp, Ross McGinnis, AJ Baddick, Sean Moccabe, Jimmy, Malachowski, and others. I liked his style of citations, leaving them for the end unless they were needed immediately for context so as not to take away from the stories.
His thoughts about Section 60 serving as our generation's Vietnam Wall are quite true, and an angle I hadn't thought of. Families can go visit their loved ones and be in the company of those doing the same. I love that Roderick Gainer and his team at the Army's Center of Military History is preserving some of these mementoes to best tell the story of those lost to war. Poole did an excellent job covering all branches of service as well as those whose deaths didn't make the front page, he makes it clear PTSD is just as valid a war death as a combat one, and those need not to be forgotten.
Poole also touched on some of the themes he did in Hallowed Ground, especially the role of JFK's assassination in making Arlington not only a tourist destination, but also a place for burial. "Kennedy's funeral inspired many veterans, who decided that if Arlington was good enough for JFK, it was good enough for them too" I also liked how he touched on those POW/MIA who technology has helped bring home, and the Arlington Ladies who make sure they're never brought home alone.
I wish Poole would write more about Arlington, it's a story that needs telling.
His thoughts about Section 60 serving as our generation's Vietnam Wall are quite true, and an angle I hadn't thought of. Families can go visit their loved ones and be in the company of those doing the same. I love that Roderick Gainer and his team at the Army's Center of Military History is preserving some of these mementoes to best tell the story of those lost to war. Poole did an excellent job covering all branches of service as well as those whose deaths didn't make the front page, he makes it clear PTSD is just as valid a war death as a combat one, and those need not to be forgotten.
Poole also touched on some of the themes he did in Hallowed Ground, especially the role of JFK's assassination in making Arlington not only a tourist destination, but also a place for burial. "Kennedy's funeral inspired many veterans, who decided that if Arlington was good enough for JFK, it was good enough for them too" I also liked how he touched on those POW/MIA who technology has helped bring home, and the Arlington Ladies who make sure they're never brought home alone.
I wish Poole would write more about Arlington, it's a story that needs telling.