William Faulkner Attempts to join U.S. Army, rejected for height; enlists in Royal Air Force (Canada).

Eager to serve during World War I, William Faulkner attempted to join the U.S. Army but was rejected due to his height—he stood just under the military's minimum requirement. Undeterred by this setback, Faulkner turned his sights north and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in Canada. This move was driven not only by a desire to participate in the war effort but also by a romanticized view of aviation and the heroic image of the fighter pilot, themes that would later influence his writing. Although he never saw combat, Faulkner's time with the Royal Air Force had a significant impact on his life and mythology. He often embellished his service in later years, crafting a narrative of himself as a war veteran, which added to his mystique and personal legend. This period also marked a turning point in his identity, as he began spelling his last name with a "u"—transitioning from "Falkner" to "Faulkner"—a symbolic gesture of reinvention. His brief military involvement, though limited in action, fueled a sense of purpose and added depth to the themes of honor, trauma, and identity in his later literary work. #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife #WilliamFaulkner #WWIHistory #RoyalAirForce #LiteraryLegends #AviationDreams