America's Upper Classes Have Gone AWOL

Westcoastmon
Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:39:17 +0000

If anyone has ever done any family history or genealogy research the article is quite true especially this paragraph:

“In the middle of the 20th century, military service was near universal for American men. While some used their privileged status to escape arduous or risky duty, society as a whole came together in the common cause of national defense. As a result, America was full of veterans who could place “news from the front” in context for friends and neighbors.”

In my mother-in-law’s family during World War I two of her three uncles volunteered for World War I. The third was simply too young. They were nephews of one of President Wilson’s cabinet members (who had no sons of his own). One died and the second was gassed. He had chronic health problems for the remainder of his life.

During World War II the former cabinet member had two grandsons who volunteered. They were both graduates of Exeter Phillips Academy. Both died - one in a Japanese prison camp and the other in an aerial battle. Neither of their bodies were ever recovered. There was a third grandson - again too young to volunteer.

My Dad lived on a farm and had flat feet. During World War II he would volunteer every time he came to town. Every time he was turned down. He said everywhere he went people asked him why he wasn’t in the Army and he told them he kept trying, but they wouldn’t take him. He was allowed to enlist and then the war ended six months later.

It was the expectation that everyone would do their full share - no matter how educated or how rich or poor.

This was also true during the Civil War - look at how many doctors and lawyers and even educators fought in this war. After the war the GAR organization was formed and lobbied for pensions for Civil War veterans. Civil War veterans were politicians, state governors, ministers, farmers, doctors, lawyers and even the president of the United States. Annual conventions were held, local organizations flourished and the GAR was influential in U.S. politics.