Who's Afraid?

How troops behave under fire is the test of all military training and leadership. More than arms and armor, the basic elements in any battle are the human factors loosely called "fear" and "courage." This week a scholarly analysis, Fear in Battle tried to put these imponderables into statistical form. Its author: Professor John Dollard, research associate in social anthropology in Yale's Institute of Human Relations.

When Dr. Dollard began his search for facts on fear 18 months ago, the biggest available group of Americans who had felt the impact of modern war was the Abraham Lincoln Brigade--the volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. (The study concerned their military experience, not their political views.) "The typical informant was a rifleman, noncommissioned, poorly trained by American Army standards, wounded. All observers seem to agree that he was a tough fighting man."

From the 300 detailed questionnaires (each took some five hours to complete) came many conclusions since borne out by the experiences of U.S. fighting men in the battles of World War II:

>> Fear is normal. Three-quarters of the veterans reported that they were afraid in first action, said they felt fear most just before battle. Sixty-four out of 100 said that the oftener they went into action the less they were afraid.

>> Fear is not something "in the mind." It has bodily symptoms which can be recognized in time to exercise control. Most common: pounding heart and rapid pulse (69%), muscular tenseness (45%), a "sinking feeling in the stomach" (44%), dry mouth (33%), clammy hands (22%). Least common are some legendary signs of fear: involuntary urination (6%) and defecation (5%), vomiting and fainting (under 1%).

>> Greatest fear was aroused by the prospect of wounds in the abdomen (29%), eyes (27%), brain (22%), genitals (20%). Least feared: wounds in the legs and feet, or hands and arms (12%), face (7%), torso (6%).

>> Most feared weapons were bomb fragments (36%), trench mortars (22%), artillery shells (18%).

>> Fear changes. Untried soldiers were more afraid of "being a coward" (36%) than of being crippled and disfigured (25%).

But veterans dreaded crippling (39%) nore than showing their fears (8%). Basic fear of dying fell equally green troops (25%) and veterans (24%).

>> Fear can be controlled. Most (84%) thought fear should be openly discussed before battle. Knowing he is not the only one afraid makes a man a better soldier. But seven out of ten veterans believed signs of fear should be suppressed in battle.

Most (all but 3%) favored leniency for the veteran with a good record who cracks up; all but 8% would givethe green man a lift.

But few have patience with the chronic deserter: 70% would have him shot out of hand.

>> A soldier should get rid of his shame of fear, concentrate in battle on his task. Fear must be replaced by other forces. Of these, the Lincoln Brigade veterans rated "belief in war aims" highest (77%), with leadership (49%), training (45%) a materiel (42%) also important. Regimental pride had a great power against fear. Only 3% felt that belonging to an outfit which had made a name for itself "had no effect" on them.

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