I have a grandson who will complete Marine Corps boot camp in about two weeks. He will come home for a few days and then return for further training. He will be in Iraq before Christmas. I have three sons. I never WANTED to see any of them go to war. I have three more young grandsons. I hope this world can find peace before they are of age to serve but I doubt that will happen. I certainly hope no evil happens to any of them. But I hope that I have instilled enough pride of being an American in them that not only will I be proud of them but that "their country" will be proud of them too. Maybe not as a warrior but as a good member of society. I know this will raise the hair on some of the necks here, but heregoes. IMO one of the biggest mistakes my country has made was to abolish the draft. Service in the military helped many young man. If you were in college, there was a deferment available for you as long as you were maintaining a certain gpa. With everyone serving, there was a turnover in the youth of towns/cities. More part time jobs were available for the youth of the community. You met different people and expanded your knowledge and experiences. You became more diversified. Before serving in the Army, I didn't know any black people except a few workers. I could not have imagined calling one "brother." Being from Mississippi, I would never have had the opportunity to work at the Pentagon, visit the White House in a work related manner, see the Smithsonian time after time, watch the Washington REDSKINS play at home. I know I am going to hear about the ones that didn't make it home. Don't you think I think of everyone of them as brothers? I still mourn them. But with dignity and honor. Not burning my discharge papers and throwing away my medals. We weren't even allowed the dignity of calling it a war. We weren't welcome'd home. Just--ya made it huh? And I get a little tired of "its my right." What gives you ANY rights? More than likely it's that young soldier that you seem to be so ashamed of. He's sacrificing so you can camp in front of the President's home. From the minute you enter this world, you are "ON YOUR OWN." You may be lucky or blessed with rich parents etc. If not--on your own. I know some of you will laugh at my BLIND allegiance. Have at it. Does this mean I am devoid of any intelligence? Maybe. But I can live with it. I trust by country's leaders. Are they all honest. No....Are some of them making a personal financial killing? Probably.... If so, whose fault is that? We have ways of correcting this. Intelligent voting for instance. Is every democrat the right man for any elected postion. Every republican? Vote smart. Live with the choices till next time. Majority rules. Not the VOCAL minority. I would much more prefer being an American with some faults than from one of these countries where I have no choice or hope. I just thank God that I was born an American. Wish I were young enough to serve again.. I guess this may be my longest post ever. Thanks for your time.. :geauxtige
two quick things: 1. it is difficult to read the first part of your post because it needs to be broken into more paragraphs. it becomes hard to keep your place when reading if the paragraph is too big. 2. i think a volunteer army works fine, plus i dont like to force people to do anything unless really really necessary. while you are probabaly right that service is good for people, i think that option should be theirs, not ours.
Maybe that will help some. Never meant to go on that long. Realized that the paragraph was overextended and thought I had hit enter earlier. Sorry and thanks.
The draft produces a higher quality recruit than volunteers do. It pulls people from a broader spectrum of the population. You get a higher average IQ and a wider range of skills and aptitudes to choose from. In World War II, Chief of Staff George Marshall felt that the OCS officers that were selected and trained from the draftee pool were more effective than the reserve and national guard officers that had had years of pre-war reserve experience. The draftee divisions performed better than many national guard divisions in the field as well. On the other hand there has to be a very major war going on to utilize all of the potential draftees (now including women). When there is not such a war, it becomes necessary to be selective in picking only enough draftees that are needed. Then many unfair situations are created where some people receive deferrments, while others have to lose three years in the army. And lotteries are held where people are picked randomly, also creating problems. Also, in the absence of a fighting war, draftees can have attitude problems that volunteers usually don't have. The Cold War era draftees created many problems for the brass because they were very unmotivated. Probably a balance is the best bet. A professional, volunteer army of sufficent size for peacetime and for small conflicts supplemented by a draft to fill out reserve units when a war has the potential to get big and last longer.
Well wishes to your grandson. There are millions of people he'll never meet who are indebted to him and his kind. And most of us appreciate it too. :usaflagwa
You have reason to be proud. There are no greater hero's in this country than people in our military defending this country. I agree with what you have said Col Reb. No one wants to die but as a member of our military it is a posibilty and every one of them know it. Thank God for people who still believe in this country and think it is still worth putting their life on the line for. One of the things i ask my wife is what are you willing to fight for. She is against what we are doing and thinks President Bush lied to us. She is always preaching peace. I think back to what Pres. Kennedy said in one of his speaches. Something to the effect of "Peace at the expense of Freedom : Is neither Peace or Freedom". As Americans we must decide what are the guidelines for us to use our military. Do we become the worlds police or do we sit by when evil people are in charge and dont do something about it. I dont claim to have all the answers but i wish our congress would make the rules of engagement by our military clearer. In Bosnia we allowed extermination of men,women, and children. In Iraq we are trying to do something about it. How do we make the decision one we do something and the other we dont. I think there should be a draft when neccessary to bring the level of troops up to the level needed. Whether that is in peacetime or war. I support our President but i think changes need to be made in how we deal with these type situations. Terrorists are not in uniforms and dont wear signs saying i am a terrorist come and shoot me. In Closing: I pray that all our servicemen can come home to be with their families as soon as possible. I thank them for their service to our country. I am sad with evey death of each and every one of them. To give your life for someone else so they might live in peace is God's highest honor. It is what he asked of his son. God speed to you and your family Col Reb.
