The Bridges at Toko-ri is a novel by James Michener about jet pilots in the Korean War. It was nothing like I thought it to be and was surprised by the turns of the story. It was filmed in 1954 with William Holden and Grace Kelly - I've never seen the movie, but the novel has a poignant message about the futility of war and an unforgettable ending I am still thinking about.
Brubaker is a young lawyer from Denver, now overseas in snowy Korea flying jets off aircraft carriers. Inland there are communist fighters and a Russian supplied stronghold of weapons at the entrance to a valley compound. The goal: to remove a series of bridges leading into this valley - flying in low and exiting the other side - with communist patrols firing at either end. From the Admiral on down the line, the characters wonder what they are fighting for - it seems a war without purpose - knowing people at home don't have a thought for their fight. They are there and do the job, without questions or understanding. Split into sections titled Sea, Land, and Sky, the first shows the technical prowess these pilots must have to catapult off of, as well as land at high speeds onto, the icy windblown carrier decks. Land deals with a furlough, and Sky introduces a nail-biting flight into the hills, avoiding enemy fire with an explosive payload to eliminate the bridges at Toko-ri.
I thought the theme would be pro-military as Michener describes the magnificence of the fighter jets - the skill and the actions the pilots must go through to fly them - but it was more like a homage to the bravery of those who can endure it. Brubaker's family arrive in Tokyo for his furlough and the side of those left behind is told. Still no one can explain to them what the war is for. The battles are intense and exciting, but the side of the enemy is also included - both seem fodder for the casualties of war. What I was left with is a portrait of honour within a chaotic world. The ending is accurate and pointless. This was a portrait of courage on a very human level.
James Michener wrote more than 40 books, including Tales of the South Pacific which earned him the Pulitzer Prize and was turned into the hit musical South Pacific. He also wrote meticulously researched historical epics such as Centennial, Alaska, Space, and Hawaii.
1953 / Paperback / 126 pages
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