Tin Noses: How Plastic Surgery Got it's Start

[@tim-tim-timmy6571]

When I was kid, I learned that my neighbour took a bullet in the jaw in Stalingrad. The surgeon that took care of him managed to reconstruct his jaw from pieces taken on his leg. The result was outstanding. What I thought were wrinkles due to old age were actually scars. I would never have guessed.

[@quinnzykir]

That’s amazing. He sounded like a nice man

[@blairmarshall544]

I don’t know to say say this without sounding sarcastic. Please don’t take as such. But that is amazing!

[@jacobprice2579]

Yes there used to be an old guy who drank in my local pub when I was a kid. Battle of Britain though not Stalingrad. He still struggled to speak but I think that was more old age. The jaw reconstruction was amazing though. Like you say, as he aged, the scars just looked like ordinary wrinkles in the face.

[@brandonmcclain2135]

My grandfather fought in WWII. US Airforce. He received extensive burns when his B-17 flying fortress was shot down over Germany. He spent months in a full body cast and almost a year right to the end of the war in 3 different pow camps. While in one of the camps nazi surgeons would practice plastic surgery on the prisioners. Because of my grandfather's extensive burns on 90% of his body he was chosen to be experimented on. They took skin graphs from all over his body to reconstruct his face. And neck line. He showed me the large scars on his back and legs. Like they were using squares of flesh to make a macab quilt. But his face. Surprisingly. They reconstructed his face with astounding precision and accuracy. It wasn't untill 2007 that a VA surgeon was giving my grandfather a once over for his glockoma issue, that he noticed scars around my grandfathers eyelids. The doctor asked him "who did you plastic surgery? They did a remarkable job. And if i wasn't Inspecting your eyes, i would have never known. " my grandfather smiled and said. "Complaments of the third Reich." The doctor apparently had to sit down after that statement.

[@islandblind]

I think that you might enjoy a book written by Emily Mayhew called "The Guinea Pig Club." This book discusses the work of Sir Archibald McIndoe, as well as the experiences of his patients who referred to themselves as "Guinea Pigs" in humorous tribute to the fact that reconstructive surgery was in its experimental phase at the time. Emily Mayhew's book contains a lengthy section concerning the treatment of POWs in German hospitals.

[@quinnzykir]

You should try to contact Last Podcast on The Left. I think they would very interested in you grandfathers story.

[@byronic-heroine]

That's a story worthy of publishing

[@brandonmcclain2135]

@@quinnzykir I that the name of the podcast? Last podcast on the left?

[@quinnzykir]

@@brandonmcclain2135 yep. I’m sure there are other history podcasts. But they’ve been talking about going back into ww2 for a while

[@xikes]

Good video. These scenes should be included in every war movie. There is no glory in war. Only suffering.

[@matthewmillburg3933]

Dad was a Korean war veteran. Purple heart, bronze star. He said that there is nothing good or glamorous about war. He seldom talked about it. Could not stand the Rambo type movies. Didn't think much of second lieutenants either

[@gifttanz]

This was a tough one for me, I went through plastic surgery as a kid after an accident and even though it was always considered fairly minor by my parents and doctors, my older relatives constantly queried if i'd be "scared for life" or "hideous". The effect other people's reactions have on your self worth when you have a facial disfigurement is one of the most damaging things to be honest, especially your loved ones.

[@StefanMedici]

What's almost worst is they were probably genuinely concerned and worried for you, what with having memories of how people with physical disfigurements were treated by others when they were young.

[@dfuher968]

Sadly, Ive always found, that it hurts a lot more coming from well meaning ppl than from just plain malicious pricks, who can be classed and discarded as such. Sometimes, ppl need to just shut up.

[@gifttanz]

@@dfuher968 that is so true, especially as a 7 year old with my grandma asking if I would be hideous, also implying i'd not find a husband if I was scarred. Was another time but it still sits with me now. Most people these days arent even seeing my scar and I dont even wear make up.

[@shellshell942]

Dr Gillies was an amazing human being. He fought for the soldiers right to wear their uniforms, for them to still be paid and he recognised their injuries went beyond physical and they needed mental health support (also had beer served in the hospital). His patients loved him and they are called the guinea pig club because of their experimental treatment. He started taking the soldiers to a town (so sorry I can't remember which) but he had informed the residents of the men's injuries prior and asked they treat the men like anyone else they would meet. The soldiers came to call the place the town that doesn't stare. Quite a few of the soldiers married some of their nurses too. Edit: I feel terrible, I made a mistake above! Sorry. The founder of the guinea pig club wasn't Dr Gillies but his colleague, Dr Archibald McIndoe. He followed Dr Gillies work and was like his protégé. If you search the guinea pig club there are plenty of photos of Dr McIndoe with the soldiers which shows some part way through their reconstructive journey.

[@serpenking]

He also performed the first ftm sex reassignment surgery!

[@sandybarnes887]

The sleepy Sussex town of East Grinstead

[@movingforward3030]

We need a biograpics on him!!

[@vellocet2438]

Thanks for the info mate :)

[@quinnzykir]

@@serpenking fucking. Legend

[@ImmortalKat4ever]

It's truly disgusting just how much society used to ignore the suffering of individuals in the name of appealing the masses. Painting benches to warn passersby that the people sitting on them might be alarmingly disfigured is just... Insane. I can't imagine the entitlement it takes to demand that injured people not sully your vision with their presence.

[@als3022]

I can easily imagine the entitlement it takes to demand such things. Studying history my entire life I have learned that specifics change, human nature does not.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

Honestly, kind conservative ideology 101 - shit on the disabled and disfigured, pretend to give a shit about war veterans. They'll say that men should "man up" about mental health issues, and completely ignore how many vets get awful mental health issues from their service. Hate on things that are "unsightly", yet liberally call for war to send people to get disfigured.

[@b1646717]

We send people off to fight and only worry about their wounds when they make us uncomfortable. Sometimes I despise being human.

[@linda10989]

Don't forget it was only after the Vietnam War that the term PTSD was seen as a real mental affliction. There was the terms shell shock and battle fatigue for WW1 and WWII. But there was a stigma that soldiers who needed help with mental issues were seen as less than a man.

[@OGA103]

Plastic surgery is incredibly fascinating. When I was working as a surgical nurse some of my favorite surgeries were reconstructive plastic surgeries. They're always different. Very cool video fact boi.

[@cmtippens9209]

Thank you for including Anna Coleman Ladd. Women's contributions are frequently credited to another man, discounted, or ignored altogether.

[@philomenaballerina]

Beautiful testimony to a particularly heinous type of suffering that so many soldiers dealt with. Thank you for this!

[@joeljanssonhernstrom1819]

The last bit about the soldiers still wearing the masks even when they where tented and worn made me tear up a bit. Old soldiers fade away but never die. Salute to the a fallen and to those who survived on a all sides.

[@thearmchairjournalist566]

Absolutely devastated by this documentary, those poor people must of had a horrific life after the injuries and we know nothing of this type of existence in today’s world of modern medicine! I am weeping for these people!

[@kashbrok]

Sadly this isn't true. I've know too many veterans that dealt with similar situations. Medicine has advanced drastically, but also has war. Thankfully people are paying attention to the mental side of this now, not perfect, but a drastic leap forward from the timeframe in this video.

[@dandylionsloth446]

Disfigurement from war and illness is still something that happens to people. We just don't see them because they are still isolated.

[@juliatarrel1674]

Two words. Car accidents. There are many sources of similar facial difference. Obviously, there are people who are simply born with atypical faces. Then add workplace accidents, diy accidents and disease. Skin cancer of the face: who puts sunscreen on their face?

[@SventheCrusader]

As incredibly difficult as it is for me to look at his work and the state of the poor people he helped, Harold Gillies was an unsung hero. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that, between facial reconstruction and reassignment surgery, he gave an untold amount of people through the generations a new lease on life.

[@ThatgeekNolan]

Dr. Gillies was also a pioneer of SRS and used his knowledge of plastic surgery to perform one of the first phalloplasty surgeries on Dr. Michael Dillon, a member of the British nobility (and also an incredibly cool guy who wrote a memoir about his life and experiences). Simon, please do a Biographics piece about this guy!

[@dannahbanana11235]

The fact that the pedicle skin graft is so old and is still used today is so cool to me!

[@Makowh]

There is a famous (french?) Novella titled "The officers' chamber", where the narrator gets disfigured in the first battle of WWI, and spends the whole war in a hospital, with more and more other disfigured soldiers being sequestered out of view there, where they learn to rebuild their lives and mental health. Great read, if you are interested in the subject!

[@leas7830]

I have never known how important work sculptors did after the WWI. Thank you for information.

[@curiodyssey3867]

Shut up

[@CashelOConnolly]

@@curiodyssey3867 why are you being so vile!

[@johncomstock2759]

Back in the early 70's I worked with a man who's face was disfigured in WW 2. One side looked normal but the other side appeared melted and discolored. He was unabashed about the injury, he had to be, he was a very good Auto salesman.

[@UniquelyPenny]

We haven’t come as far as a society as you would think. The comments at the start are something I can relate to. I was born with a facial difference. I’ve gone through more surgeries than I can count and not many successful. People still stare, mock, point and laugh. I couldn’t get a job with the public for the very reasons said. That I would be a distraction, that I would scare people. It’s a thing to experience when a kid looks at you and legit runs away screaming. Those living with facial differences are not accepted in society these days. There isn’t representation and we are seen as villains. Although advances in medics help ensure that things can be done a lot of time it’s under the guise of making someone look “normal”. It’s whacked.

[@Jadianne]

I've always wondered if there is such a thing as a 'best way' to interact with those whose physical appearances are atypical. Of course growing up I was taught, as I suppose most children are, that it is rude to stare. However it always felt 'wrong' to avoid looking, like I was refusing to acknowledge them or pretending super hard that the elephant in the room did not exist, when it is something that person can't pretend doesn't exist even if they wanted to. Mostly I will just focus on that individual, do a 'once over' thing, make eye contact, smile or nod greeting and move on but I'm aware that could also result in them feeling self-concious or uncomfortable so should I in fact just not look? Would you have a personal preference or any recommendation as to what would be least likely to cause discomfort?

[@sleepdrone3642]

You don’t need me to tell you this and I do not intend to be condescending, but you are perfect the way you are. Don’t let past experiences sour your outlook on life. The world can be cruel but the happiness it can offer far outweighs this.

[@rosie6]

… this is so sad to hear dude, I’m sorry people acted that way. I know your pain but obviously I cannot relate on the exact same level. You should watch the ted talk on owning your face❤️

[@shawnnewell4541]

This was very informative. Thank you, talented and compassionate surgeons and artists, for trying to repair the damage of war.

[@renata8979]

The syphilis-related nose reconstructive surgery (the one with the arm fixation) was covered pretty explicitly in The Knick tv series.

[@droldsw31]

One of the characters in "Board Walk Empire" was named Richard Harlow. He was a very interesting character, one of my all time favorites.

[@kieronparr3403]

Legend. His killing spree is one of the best scenes in tv

[@Josep_Hernandez_Lujan]

@@kieronparr3403 Best shot of all the characters

[@danielsass1826]

The craziest part of this is the men who came home were ostracized. That baffles me. These men are heroes

[@als3022]

To be fair this was the same war that had women handing white feathers to men who weren't in uniform to shame them to go off and fight. Not really a surprise that they wouldn't want to see the cost of that.

[@visx1792]

I dunno, you listen to a certain blonde, orange ape and you can see the attitude. "Um, we only really like the soldiers who dont get shot/blown up/disfigured". Wounds are a reminder of the terrible cost and tragedy of war, not the good feels of winning one. If you can call it that.

[@Skorpychan]

Uncanny valley effect. Nobody likes something that looks or seems only MOSTLY human. Plastic surgery can fix the outside, but the changes on the inside can merely be hidden.

[@danielreuben1058]

You did a video a while back in which English men were given flowers to shame them into enlisting in the war. Was that WWI or WWII? It's deeply sad when one fights for their country and are shunned when they return. My heart goes out to all who have suffered from this. People be better.

[@benjaminrees6665]

I'm quite moved anytime I see anything on the subject. The description of a mans face ripped off and tongue laying out. I can't imagine being a nurse or Dr and have to treat such horrific injuries. My heart goes out to them

[@matthew.datcher]

I personally found this to be the most difficult Simon Whistler video to listen to to date. Even the murder videos on The Casual Criminalist didn't make my skin crawl as much.

[@robertwalker-smith2739]

I worked my entire career in the prosthetics department of the local VA hospital. One of my colleagues was an anaplastologist who created custom anatomical restorations for disabled veterans. The difference in their quality of life with a well-made facial prosthesis is indescribable. Between 1984 and 2008, the degree to which battlefield injuries became survivable was remarkable. Toward the end of my time there, I saw young men who made me wonder if they would have been better off dying in Afghanistan or Iraq instead of being brought back to be resurrected.

[@twocvbloke]

The revulsion of people seeing these injuries was most likely not originally a prejudice, but the fear of seeing something they had never witnessed before on such a great scale, but ultimately did become a prejudice, and even today people still are repulsed by disfigurements, whether acquired or born with them, it's just one of those things us humans seem to do, whether we want to or not...

[@als3022]

Instinctual to be honest. We don't like to see how the body can go wrong. From what disease can do, to what war can do. Even if we sympathize. Recognizing that and then remembering that within those damaged parts is a human being trying to live their life and treating them as another human being is the most important part.

[@dozingrose]

This is so heartbreaking. Thank God (or whoever) there were surgeons dedicated to doing more and better for these men!

[@maryscott9430]

Wow. Thank god for those sculptors! What a wonderful thing for the injured!!

[@magnusgreel275]

That was painful to watch in every way--those poor people. Going off to war and coming back disfigured, being treated like monsters... What an absolute failure of humanity war is.

[@kcollier2192]

Great episode Simon and to all of those that went thru the horror of war- thanks for your services.

[@dannykassmieh1198]

The Great Leap Forward would be a good Into the Shadows video if it hasn't been done. The Chinese Sparrow that was almost eradicated is an interesting example of how even a seemingly small policy change can cause catastrophe. Also, I enjoy the aesthetic on this channel. I notice your experiments with different video styles and you've done an amazing job!

[@jodyswallow1008]

How awful for those poor unfortunate soldiers returning from war only to be mocked and ridiculed. For shame!

[@blacknrd05]

Thank you for doing a video on project fascade! Fun/sad fact: the enemies on bioshock *splicers were based on the patient's of project fascade.

[@Kate31415]

This has been in my suggested videos for a couple of days, but as someone with facial dysmorphia and what I hope are objectively minor scars compared to what these brave men went through, I thought it would be too difficult to watch. Having finally watched it though, I'm glad I did. It's important that in this modern world of glorifying war movies and media which portrays war as lines moving on battle maps, a moment is taken to remember not only those that don't survive but those who do with their lives changed forever.

[@aja9469]

Thanks Simon, and crew! This was a very intriguing video. I love this new format.

[@vellocet2438]

This reminds me of Richard Harrow from Board walk empire. Thanks for the great content Simon and team!

[@ZAV1944]

Some time you aught to cover the Russo-Japanese war from 1904 to 1905 a largely forgotten war that was in a way a prelude to the Horrors if the Great War, this war also saw the Rise of Japan as a major world power(and ultimately the war in the Pacific) as well as put the gears in motion that would ultimately topple the Tsar and give rise to the Soviet Union.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:25 - Chapter 1 - Early plastic surgery 3:50 - Chapter 2 - WWI 6:15 - Chapter 3 - The development of plastic surgery - Chapter 4 - - Chapter 5 - - Chapter 6 -

[@Benjanuva]

Definitely a silver lining in these shadows. Very interesting video.

[@stephenkwasek1933]

Great work. One of the best. Happy day Simon!

[@hammerjim19741]

Amazing topic that many havent thought of. I believe there are some old movies about this. But many have never seen them. Great topic of tragedy that soldiers went through...

[@MushroomHedgehog]

This is easily the darkest episode so far. I’m shocked this isn’t discussed more.

[@pakde8002]

This is one of the most horrifying videos ever. Even more horrific is the thought that a world war could break out any moment and for reasons just as primitive as the first one. I used to live near Fort Bragg in the USA and often visited the veterans hospital as part of my work and saw many wounded veterans from Vietnam, many just seemed broken old men and it made me very sad to see what happens when humans are used in place of diplomacy. Years later while undergoing extensive physical therapy after an accident I saw many young soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan missing various parts of their bodies learning to adapt to life with prosthetics but rather than sad it mostly made me angry that these young people fresh out of high school were duped into signing up for that from a patriotic feeling following 9/11.

[@IronBahamut]

5:00 well that's absolutely horrifying

[@davidmassey4114]

With some of our greatest tragedies come some of our greatest achievements

[@dragonlover7196]

the great war is truly one of the subjects that, no matter how much i know- no matter how many times i've heard or read about it- i still leave feeling sick to my stomach. countless unspeakable horrors inflicted on so many people all at once, and millions had to live with those for the rest of their lives. millions more died without names and still remain forgotten.

[@hughmungous775]

I can't imagine being in a family that would turn their backs on a loved one for being horribly wounded and disfigured while fighting on the front lines. Absolutely terrible.

[@petersutherland7482]

I have read several books about this subject ... fascinating, the horrors of war!

[@LordBathtub]

Possibly the best video on the channel

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@sylviahoffman9440]

Excellent reporting on this phase of medical history.

[@semi-trad-kind-of-wife]

It's heartbreaking to think of how those brave, selfless heroes were treated because of their disfigurement. They deserved better

[@joshsmyth130]

The very worst can also bring the very best, for in great suffering we can see the true extent of human solidarity.

[@sadalien9049]

I'd like to think God gives those amazing doctors some special reward for helping improve peoples' lives like that. A lot of these techniques, like adding rib bone to increase the size of a nose, are still widely used today.

[@KW-qd1bi]

Some of the descriptions of the surgeries sound like something out of the hellraiser films. The fact that they were an improvement for some is staggering.

[@als3022]

What they were able to turn those into is amazing. I have seen some where the person is missing whole sections of the face and they do amazing jobs.

[@andrewsld]

I work in dermatology surgery and the forehead/nose flap is still very much used for reconstruction after large skin cancer removal from the nose.

[@tomvandijk9706]

Last time I was this early Simon only had 3 channels

[@Isgonesomewhere]

I loved this video Simon.

[@TexanAmiga]

Very interesting. I had heard about these but had no idea to the extent they were made and used.

[@kaitefink2031]

A book about Gillies just came out earlier this year, which I'm just starting to read. I would, so far recommend both this book and the author. It's by Lindsey Fitzharris and called The Facemaker.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@djdrack4681]

Crazy uncommon today: In my town there is a woman in her 60s or maybe early 70s that is a thalidomide baby. The deformity is quite obvious. She works at local store still, its just shocking to see her still alive (few of them left). There is also a guy in the area I see occasionally in the stores: he's prob a 'nam vet. No nose. idk if the surgery he had was a peticle graft, but I'd say it looks like it. No 'reconstructed' nose, just a big detent where the nose was with skin over it. Everytime I see him I'm reminded of the horrors of war, and what many have to deal with.

[@TheLoneTerran]

Wow, those were some shallow spouses. The husband goes though horrific physical and mental trauma and the woman packs up and leaves because "he's ugly".

[@TxmmyBeats]

Mannnnn…. Makes me realize how good we have it now a days.

[@Dollarkat]

Wow, people can be shockingly intolerant, unsympathetic, mean, non-understanding, cruel. I could go on too.

[@als3022]

Human nature based on self-interest. Instinctive and humans have been able to take that instinct all over the place. Though to be fair avoiding looking at mutilation is also instinctive. Even if we are sympathetic, we all flinch when we see someone who has been damaged severely. We will feel bad and the best thing to do is just treat them like anyone else.

[@loisreese2692]

@KT First time huh? You new at this?

[@teshlafreeman4040]

Right in the feels

[@BanniToki]

I think the worst one to look at, for me, was the one where the man had his arm strapped to his head for days. I have a condition where raising my arms above my head cuts off my circulation. It's quite painful. So the tortuousness of that experience felt very vivid to me. I feel like the attitude of most people I know is contemptuous of plastic surgery. The fact that plastic surgery has a serious life-saving role to play seems to have been swept under the rug.

[@tacklengrapple6891]

You know, I wish I’d listened to the Jimminy Cricket in my head that said “don’t watch this on lunch, pinoch!” Fail…

[@ladyrazorsharp]

Yeah, my chicken sandwich didn't go down easy. *gulp*

[@quasarsavage]

The real hero’s of plastic surgery

[@quasarsavage]

Not the BS we have today

[@catharinepizzarello4784]

Absolutely beautiful, sir.

[@chesspiece81]

The makes be think of Richard Harrow from Boardwalk Empire.

[@br3annand3rs0n]

Came here to say the same thing. That was my first introduction to the fact that this was even a thing.

[@the-chillian]

Tycho Brahe was a 16th century scientist, the finest observational astronomer of his day. His data was so exact that Johannes Kepler, who began his career as Brahe's assistant, was able to use his data to prove the elliptical orbits of the planets. But in his younger days Brahe had a bit of a temper, and while at university got into a duel because of an argument over, of all things, who was the better mathematician. This left him with a wound that wrecked his nose, and he wore a prosthetic nose for the rest of his life. It was said to have been made of gold and silver, but that was apparently the one he wore for special occasions, and his regular nose was made of brass. In either case, it was attached to his face with glue, which can't have been all that fun, but it was better than going without half a nose.

[@esteemedmortal5917]

War has a way of pushing medical science beyond its boundaries. It wasn’t until the Iraq war that people who lost all four limbs in combat were surviving. They’ve also done some really cool things with glass eyes, carrying on the tradition of blending science and art.

[@allangibson2408]

Quadruple amputees did come out of the First World War - they just never left the hospitals and the German and Austrian ones were executed in the late 1930’s.

[@britaeirikr8609]

I am pretty sure it isn't Harold [sounds like] Jiles, but is pronounced Gil-ease for the surgeon named Harold Gillies.

[@Marauder99991]

Me at the beginning of the video: This doesn't seem like a topic for this channel. Me at the end: Welp, I was wrong.

[@ajkleipass]

Facial prosthetics are still a thing today. They are often used to restore the ravages of cancers of the jaw / mouth / eye cavity. IIRC, there is an episode or two of one of the BBC's many doctor programs that show this procedure. The skills of making the masks were probably never lost after WWI, as that artistry carries over to special effects makeup for the stage and film.

[@stevenmclaughlin7817]

Hey Simon since you're from the u.k do you remember a castle owned by an American woman that let the army to test flamethrowers there?also made it a hospital and most people were burn victims. Southern coast of England I believe.Dr spilsbury was definitely a revolutionist

[@brendakrieger7000]

Heartbreaking stories💔

[@Ubersnuber]

I’d like to don my superior-morality hat, and lash out at the partners who left their disfigured loved ones. But I can’t. Might seem obvious, but I think one needs to really imagine it happening to oneself. It must be harrowing to both involved, in so many ways.

[@Isaiah42069]

Heros.. all of them.

[@alexc2265]

It’s its* here in the title, beloved Factboy

[@sventer198]

Wow. This was a deep one.

[@griffith5704]

Historical plastic surgery is one of my many special interests! I had no idea about the masks

[@UkDave3856]

I woild have expected a vid on this subject, woild have included a section of the pioneering work done in East Grinstead and the subsequent Guinea Pig club

[@islandblind]

I'm impressed that you know about the Guinea Pig Club. Not many people have heard of it. Even some of my former history profs gave me a puzzled look when I mentioned the Guinea Pigs. That's a shame. It's a story that deserves to be more widely known.

[@CLAX1337]

gasp typo in the title - thumbs up anyway doe. Love the vids

[@missladyanonymity]

I must catch up on Pennyworth. The Sykes sister help some man with a metal nose prosthetic.

[@aaronmeredith2410]

Got a Botox ad before the video 😂

[@audreymuzingo933]

I like to think myself incapable of violence against another human being, let alone mass violence, but when I picture myself coming home from the horrors of war, in physical agony and shock at my own injuries, and being shunned by my community BECAUSE of them, I can't help but picture wanting to make them suffer so they could see how it feels.

[@staytuned2L337]

Weird how I can rock cas-crim with no cringe, but I'm noping out at 2:40 here 😂

[@shadymcnasty5920]

Moral of this video? Fuck war

[@hgbugalou]

Easy to say now living in one of the most peaceful times in history but when faced with the evils of things like Nazi Germany sometimes we have no choice but to fight. It sucks, and its part of the reason we have learned to talk things out most times now. That said, we should never allow evil to spread just to prevent it. We should also not go headlong into it foolishly with little to gain from it like we have done recently here in the US. To be clear, I agree with your sentiment, but we should also not just be content with everything at any cost to avoid war.

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Indeed interesting

[@reginleif6703]

Maybe it’s because I live in the modern era but nothing I saw was shocking. The story was heart wrenching, but the soldiers weren’t hideous. They looked just fine to me.

[@keithmoore5306]

well this was all well and good for the ones with face wounds what was done for pecker hits back then??

[@RatherUnique101]

Like the guy from Boardwalk Empire with the mask face and glasses attached

[@janebeman6259]

That's part of the plot line from the silent movie "Phantom of the Opera."

[@truemoayyed8482]

Hello Simon

[@DaemlichesStueck]

I can't imagine having my husband or father or son return to me, mostly fine, alive - which is a miracle in itself, and then leaving them because of their looks. That's incredibly shallow to me. Wouldn't I love them for the person they are and not how they looked? Wouldn't I be overjoyed by just having them back in my life?

[@nikkyk4839]

Imagine people go to war and fight for your freedom etc and when they come back with major injuries, you ignore their suffering and isolate them because they are disfigured and "ugly".