an inglorious passage of arms

In as much as this text may not be absolutely grammatically correct and the pluperfect use of tense may leave much to be desired, it does little to detract from the storyline. It is a tale concerning the activities of an anti hero, as he progresses from a military environment to civilian employment but his life is inextricably linked with events that have occurred prior to his birth and series of minor wars and conflicts that have become the milestones of the twentieth century. It is the culmination of these events which relate directly to his circumstances both physically and metaphorically and provide the theme of this tale.
The man's trials and tribulations are no more extraordinary than the brief vale of tears through which many progress in the course of their three score years and ten on this earth. There is no deep hidden meaning, it is just a story. Any relationship to person or persons living or dead is purely co-incidental and unintentional, places and events stand on their own merits.