I do not understand why David Bellavia’s memoir of Iraq and the second Battle of Fallujah (“House to House”) had not been made into a movie. It is because his memoir is not antiwar (it is neutral on the war, although he understands the mission). He is articulate, bawdy, savage, and realistic. The men have been fighting house-to-house for weeks and are filthy, tired, hungry and avoiding death from booby-trapped houses everday. But they are professional warriors with the warrior ethos, willing to kill and, if necessary, be killed. He has contempt for the REM’s (“Rear Echelon Motherfuckers”), the brass who helicopter in for photo opportunities with “the grunts.” At the same time, he has respect for combat brass, the fighting captains who are shoulder to shoulder with their men and watch over them. He recognizes the bravery of the enemy who will sometimes expose himself to fire (and certain death), so that the other insurgencts will know where the Americans are. At one point, he describes an apocalyptic scene in Fallujah where wild dogs are feasting on the bodies of dead insurgent killed by the Americans. The climatic scene is his hand-to-hand battle with an insurgent that recalls a scene in “Saving Privte Ryan.” He won the Silver Star for the engagement and was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor. At the same times, he is fearful and has moments of doubt about his own courage and agonizes (as a sargeant) over the fate of his men. It is the best war book that I have ever read. Some chapters are so taut and action-packed that they seem ready for incorporation into a screenplay. I have heard nothing about his book being filmed. Is he being ignored because the book lacks an antiwar title and message?
