In the beginning
of Heart of a Solider, James B.
Stewart introduces three unrelated names: Rick Rescorla, Dan Hill, and Susan [Rescorla]
(later in the story). While individually characterizing the three individuals,
Stewart includes details of the Vietnam War, in which both Rick and Dan fought.
Commenting on two poles of emotion, pain and love, Stewart constructs an
argument that selfless, unconditional love for humanity trumps any other
action. As was developed previously, Rick Rescorla fought in the Vietnam War
with Dan Hill, developing a strong bond that lasted well into their old age.
Additionally, following his service in the military, Rescorla met Susan, who
was the love of his life. Upon defining the immense value of these bonds,
Stewart describes Rescorla’s selfless need to save civilians during the 9/11
attack, in which he sacrificed his own life to ensure he could save as many
people as possible. As many people could not make the selfless sacrifices that
Rescorla did, Stewart develops a strong appeal to pathos through the
development of the Rescorla’s life. While almost the entirety of the book
describes Rescorla’s background, its strongest message is in the final chapters
in which Stewart shows what it truly means to have the “Heart of a Soldier:” to
have an innate, unrelenting will to help others even in the face of adversity. Speaking
to not only Americans, but relating this principle to humans around the globe,
Stewart comments on the enormous impact an individual can make upon society.
Evidently, the “search of stragglers” (Stewart) remains to be a defining aspect
of Rescorla’s character; he is unwilling to leave another human to suffer,
perhaps relating to the comraderie that existed during war. Delivering
Rescorla’s life story, Stewart’s appeal to pathos illustrates how a single
person can impact society based upon a selfless unwillingness to leave others
in suffering.
Works Cited
Stewart,
James B. Heart of a Soldier: a Story of Love, Heroism, and September
11th. New York, NY, Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2003.
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