The quote from Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" reflects the protagonist's deep sense of frustration and irony toward war and duty. Having experienced over seventy combat missions, he feels disillusioned with the notion that his efforts were meant to protect his country. Instead, he believes he has been engaged in a personal battle all along, suggesting a shift from collective sacrifice to individual survival. This highlights a critical theme in the novel: the absurdity of bureaucratic logic in wartime.