Unearthed Rod Serling Story, ‘First Squad, First Platoon,’ Reflects on His World War II Experience

Rod Serling, the iconic creator of “The Twilight Zone,” is being remembered in a new light as a previously unpublished war story he wrote in his early twenties has been unearthed and published for the first time. The story, titled “First Squad, First Platoon,” offers a powerful and unvarnished look at the brutality of war, drawing on Serling’s own experiences serving in the 11th Airborne Division in the Philippines during World War II.

The story, broken into five vignettes, is dedicated to fallen peers and showcases Serling’s ability to capture the horrors of war with a maturity beyond his years. Serling, who received a Bronze Star for bravery and a Purple Heart for being wounded during the war, carried lasting physical and emotional scars from his time in combat.

The discovery of “First Squad, First Platoon” sheds new light on Serling’s early writing and his ability to confront the traumas of war through storytelling. The story was found by author Nicholas Parisi while researching Serling’s papers at the University of Wisconsin, offering a glimpse into the young writer’s perspective on the realities of war.

As Serling’s daughters, Jodi and Anne, reflect on their father’s wartime experiences, they highlight the impact that his service had on his writing and his personal life. The publication of “First Squad, First Platoon” serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Serling and countless others during a tumultuous period in history.