killing people and breaking things

[Neal Whitman]

I'm writing an article about the military use of "kinetic", as discussed here a few times. A friend who has served in the Army defined it as "killing people and breaking things", which I've since learned is a common summary of the purpose of an army. The earliest I've found this phrase attested is from 1977, via Google Books:

  Armies kill people and break things; therefore, their commitment involves serious questions as to who will be killed, what will be broken, and how long and by whom the effects will be felt.  
  Parameters: journal of the US Army War College: Volume 7, Issue 3 (1977)

Elsewhere, I've found it vaguely attributed to the Vietnam War era. Does anyone here know of earlier uses than 1977 for "kill(ing) people and break(ing) things"?

Thanks,

Neal Whitman
Email: nwhitman at ameritech.net
Blog: http://literalminded.wordpress.com

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