The truth that is suppressed by friends is the readiest weapon of the enemy.
To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.
The reason that war is such a fascinating subject for writers is because it's a revealer. Put a bunch of people in an adrenaline-fuelled life-or-death situation and their fundamental behaviours are exposed the scrim is taken away and the motivations behind each personality come out to play.