The Thousand Yard Stare

Tom Lea, "The Two Thousand Yard Stare," 1944

The anniversary of D-Day on June 6 last week brought up memories of the thousand yard stare, a look that is common in combat soldiers who have witnessed the horror of warfare. The look is blank, unfocused, and haggard. The origin of the term seems to be from a painting done for Life magazine at the end of World War II called "Marines Call it That Two Thousand Yard Stare." But it has changed to one thousand yards, unaccountably

To be clear, that vacant, shocked expression is seen in survivors of all sorts of emotional and physical trauma--fires, automobile accidents, and so on. But unlike those, which are isolated incidents affecting a handful of people, what we call the thousand yard stare is common in combat soldiers.

Hoff, "Charles Durning," 2019

During the recent celebrations of the anniversary of D-Day, several veterans spoke or were remembered. Notably, Charles Durning, the well-known character actor, spoke of his personal experience during one event. As he spoke, his expression changed. In the beginning of his talk he was somber and composed, his gaze focused on the attendees. But then as he began to recount the landing, his face gradually became an unmoving, horrified mask--the thousand yard stare returned. His story, briefly, was of being one of the first soldiers to land. The enemy was firing steadily at the boats as they approached the beach, sounding almost like hail. The ramp fell and the soldier ahead of Mr. Durning was first out. He was killed immediately, and his body fell. Mr. Durning attempted to leap over him, tripped, and went into the ocean. The man just behind him was killed by enemy fire, too. In other words, he was saved completely by chance as thousands of his comrades in arms died storming Omaha Beach.

The stare is always there, it seems, lurking somewhere in the background. For many combat veterans, it's no wonder they've never discussed their combat experiences.

Perhaps those whose lives are safer and more tranquil should always remember what those who went to war for them did, and what they lost.


---
Previously
1000 Yards with Sketchbook