Johnny Got His Gun is a vivid anti-war novel written in 1939 by American novelist and screewriter Dalton Trumbo.

Film version

In 1971 Trumbo, who was renowned as a prolific screenwriter, directed and wrote the screenplay for the movie of the same title, based on his book.

Title

The title comes from the phrase "Johnny get your gun," a rallying call that was commonly used to encourage young American men to enlist in the military in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The story is a work of historical fiction.

Metallica's 1988 song and music video "One" were inspired by the novel.

The book has been issued as ISBN 0553274325

Johnny Got His Gun tells the story of Joe Bonham, a World War I infantryman who was horribly maimed in combat. Bonham survives an explosion, but lost his arms, legs and eyes, nose, and mouth. He is also deaf, blind, and mute. Bonham does not initially comprehend the full nature of his situation, but, after realizing his condition, learns to communicate with others by using Morse Code by tapping his head against his pillow. Bonham's wish to be taken on tour as an anti-war display is denied by his military superiors.

In a series of flashbacks, the reader is forced to compare the vibrancy of mundane, ordinary life with the horrors and living death of war. The story also provides a unique perspective on bioethics and advances in medicine.