"War is hell" from one who knew.

I've been hearing that alot over the past few days. Usually, it's said with a sneer or some other dismissive gesture. "Too bad, so sad, war is hell."

The phrase is attributed to Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, a cruel and bloody man, but certainly not a lover of war. (N.B., a number of people I know attribute the quote to Patton, but I've seen nothing to support that.)

Here are a few of the quotes attributed to Sherman:

At a gathering in Ohio:

“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell”.

http://quote.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman

To graduating military cadets:

‘I’ve been where you are now and I know just how you feel. It’s entirely natural that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired here.

‘Suppress it! You don’t know the horrible aspects of war. I’ve been through two wars and I know. I’ve seen cities and homes in ashes. I’ve seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is hell!’

http://www.mi5th.org/warishell.htm

And one quoted without context:

"There is many a boy here who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell. You can bear this warning voice to generations to come."

The U.S. is continuing to put an entire people through this hell unjustly.

the Sea." He created the "Tom DeLay's" of this world. He created a legacy that has corrupted the dialog in America as much as Vietnam did.

Yes, Sherman's words are good to read again, as a reminder for us all.

and Kerry knows too.