Introduction & Overview of Kilroy by Peter Viereck

Kilroy Introduction

Peter Viereck's "Kilroy" appeared in his first collection of poetry, Terror and Decorum: Poems 1940-1948, published in 1948. The poem's title is taken from the phrase "Kilroy was here," popularized during World War II to draw attention to the wide scope of territory on which American soldiers landed or which they occupied during the conflict. The name "Kilroy" represented every GI from the United States, and thousands of soldiers scrawled the phrase on walls, tanks, latrines, train cars—virtually anything that would accept a marking. The graffiti's appearance in so many likely and unlikely places made a loud statement about the mighty American presence in Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific islands where GIs fought, killed, died, and were held captive. Soldiers from all the enemy nations were familiar with the phrase and, obviously, were not too happy to see it turn up nearly everywhere they looked.

Viereck's poem emphasizes...
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