Early on, I’d never wondered at the reason for the title of one of my most favorite movies. It was only after having acquired the book that I discovered the answer, but even then, I was a wee bit too young to comprehend the true meaning of the term. It’s derived from Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “Gentlemen-Rankers”, one of the pieces in his 1898 publication Barrack-Room Ballads. Part of it goes as follows:

“Gentlemen-rankers out on the spree,
Damned from here to Eternity,
God ha’ mercy on such as we…”

And, of course, I had no idea what a “gentlemen-ranker” was, or a spree. Only in later years did I learn that a “gentlemen-ranker” was simply a common soldier in the British Army, same as an American GI, one of a low non-commissioned rank. As for spree, I learned that on my own when I came of age, not to be talked about here…(“,).

What I will speak of is the book, From Here To Eternity, by James Jones, published in 1951, not the 1953 movie which I commented on here in an earlier post.

Both are definitely on my all-time favorites list but I can’t help but complain about the usual occurrence of one not being as good as the other. The usual instance is that the movie isn’t as good as the book. In this case, my own personal opinion gives kudos to the movie. Nonetheless, the book still paints an astounding picture of what it was to serve in the prewar Army, a not-so flattering description.

It tells the tale of Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt, a champion welterweight and fine bugler. But after blinding a fellow soldier in a sparring session, he refuses to participate any longer in the regimental boxing competitions, transferring out of the Buglers Corp to a Regular unit due to a not as skilled bugler being promoted to the rank of First Bugler over him. Prewitt’s pride was having once played Taps at Arlington Cemetery so he transfers out on a matter of principle and possibly ego, as well.

But he is at once set upon to help his new Regimental Company retain their boxing championship, receiving the quintessential “treatment” for those not conforming to the wishes of those in power.

And so goes this not-so-glorious tale of the prewar army of what we now know of as the “Greatest Generation”, written by one of its participants.

James Jones, himself, served in this Army in Hawaii, seeing the attack on Pearl Harbor and later serving on Guadalcanal. So it was the muse of living in this world that inspired the writing of this powerful work. This one was the first of a trilogy of WWII novels, the second being The Thin Ted Line, followed by Whistle, which was published posthumously, Jones having died from congestive heart failure. Not having completed this work, he had left behind copious notes for Willie Morris to complete the final section after his death.

Considering the era From Here To Eternity was written in, is it any wonder that it was totally censored for language? However, an uncensored version was published in 2011, using the toxic language Jones was familiar with having served in that Army, language which he himself used in penning the original, as if most of us haven’t already heard such words in the books and movies of our current era.

So as I make my way onward to my own personal “eternity”, with me I’ll take fond memories of reading and viewing some of the greatest literature and film work of all time!