Sheepdog Tip of the Day, After Combat tip 126
The enemy who fights to a "noble" death validates and affirms the killer's belief in his own nobility and the glory of his cause. Thus a World War I British officer could speak admiringly to Holmes of German machine gunners who remained faithful unto death: "Topping fellows. Fight until they are killed. They gave us hell." ... These are "noble kills," which place the minimum possible burden on the conscience of the killer. And thus the soldier is able to further rationalize his kill by honoring his fallen foes, thereby gaining stature and peace by virtue of the nobility of those he has slain.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, On Killing
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