Sleep Deprivation Alan Derickson Analysis

Alan Derickson discusses the issue of sleep deprivation and the importance of wakefulness in the United States and more particularly the United States armed forces during and after World War II. Derickson begins with the move from daytime warfare to nighttime warfare as a main cause of the sleep deprivation in American soldiers. The increase in technology in the early 20th century and the enemies on the Pacific front are two main causes for nighttime warfare. Attacks and missions had started to be carried out during the night under the cover of darkness, requiring soldiers to sacrifice their sleep for that time. This increase in activities had also turned the support and maintaining missions into overdrive costing these individuals valued

“Fear provided one of the biggest incentives to remain conscious while serving on or near the front lines of combat.” (3) In the front lines the men and women aren’t given many opportunities to sleep. Many scrounge for whatever sleep they may be able to come by in such a high alert situation. The high activity of an active warzone creates times when individuals have no time for sleep. Thus soldiers must sleep while one duty in order to stay at their best. Creating another issue, Soldiers who are sleeping aren’t giving their undivided attention to the task at hand. On the contrary, soldiers who are not sleeping also cannot give their undivided attention either. Soldiers with bloodshot eyes from staying awake for days at time cannot focus as well. They make mistakes and many of those can cost lives that America did not have to spare during World War II. Many individuals had become horrified to the point that they could not sleep anymore. The sights and sounds of war can create terrible dreams and images in someone’s mind not allowing anymore sleep to be