Abstract:
A story of two young Americans who enlisted in the U. S. Army at the outset of World War II and conducted themselves admirably until the war came to a conclusion in 1945.

One of them had a death wish, wanting to be killed in action. . . but, it never happened although he continuously took unnecessary risks. He bragged that there was no bullet out there with his name on it.

The other one was involved in some of the heaviest fighting . . . but, never even suffered a scratch.

One looked forward to dying because of an albatross he carried on his back.

The other one had difficulty with his four marriages, losing all of his wives, one after another.