On the wings of a 'homesick angel': The Heroic Journey of a World War II tail gunner.

摘要

This research utilizes a life story approach to explore heroism and heroic leadership. It identifies similarities and relationships between the life experience of military veterans and the conceptual framework of Joseph Campbell's Heroic Journey. The Heroic Journey is a transcendental experience of personal discovery during which participants are transformed by great challenges along a "road of trials," experience enlightenment and personal meaning, and ultimately obtain the power to bestow "boons" upon their fellow man. It is based primarily on the rites of passage formula that has been shared globally in ancient myths for thousands of years. The research provides a literature review of heroism and World War II combat as a source of broad comparison between military service and Campbell's Heroic Journey. The literature also provides historical and social context for the lived experience of the participant, Mr. Leslie (Les) Spillman, whose life story is the focus of this research.;Les was a typical rural farm boy who found himself swept away by a World War II heroic adventure that helped define his generation. Les' Heroic Journey led him to serve as a B-17 tail gunner whose heroic path crossed with General George S. Patton's when he was shot down on his fifth mission and rescued by General Patton's 3rd Army. Throughout his combat experience and post-war civilian career, Les remained true to heroic virtues and took advantage of the lessons he learned during his "road of trials." This research provides a chronological narrative of his life story, its relationship to Campbell's Heroic Journey, and lessons in leadership and life.