In celebration of Memorial Day, we remember the Open Road Media authors—and families of authors—who spent time in service.
James Jones (1921–1977) was one of the preeminent American writers of the twentieth century. With a series of three novels written in the decades following World War II, he established himself as one of the foremost chroniclers of the modern soldier’s life.
In this rare photo, Jones stands outside the same trailer camp where he wrote his masterpiece, From Here to Eternity, which tells the unforgettable story of a soldier who becomes an outcast after refusing to box for his company team. Set against the backdrop of Pearl Harbor, the book is an unflinching look at a motley crew of some of the destitute, homeless, and desperate characters that made up America’s pre-WWII peacetime army. When the book was published in 1951, it sold 90,000 copies in its first month and created such a public outcry that it has since been credited with playing a significant role in reshaping unjust army practices. It also won the National Book Award, beating out The Catcher in the Rye.
Jones’ epic novels were heavily influenced by his experience serving in the army. After witnessing the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jones was sent to Guadalcanal, where he distinguished himself in battle, at one point killing an enemy soldier barehanded. While Jones was awarded a bronze star for bravery, he had to be shipped home in 1943 when an old injury to his ankle made it impossible for him to continue serving. Following a period of convalescence in Memphis, Jones requested a limited-duty assignment and a short leave. When these were denied, he went AWOL, only to return a few months later, spending a year as a “buck-ass private” (a term he coined) before being promoted to sergeant. In the summer of 1944, showing signs of severe post-traumatic stress—then called “combat fatigue”—he was honorably discharged.
Jones then moved to Paris, where he lived for most of the rest of his life, contributing regularly to the Paris Review and continuing to write classic novels such as The Thin Red Lineand The Merry Month of May.