Nation's elite are AWOL from military duty

[Catchawave]

Joe Galloway
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

WASHINGTON - A new book expands on a familiar subject: the absence of America's elite and its governing class - and their children - from the ranks of our nation's military.

The book is AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service - and How It Hurts Our Country.

...snip...

As recently as 1956, 400 members of Princeton's graduating class went on to serve in the military. In 2004, nine graduates did so. Harvard, Yale, Brown and other elite universities don't even allow Reserve Officer Training Courses on their campuses.

In the years after World War II, virtually every member of Congress was a veteran of military service. By 1971, three-quarters of the members had worn the uniform. Today, only a third of the 535 members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have served.

During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had sons serving in uniform. Today's political leaders and the rest of the country's elite don't feel the same obligation to send their children to serve in harm's way.

Military recruiting has suffered as a consequence. Parents in some better neighborhoods demand that recruiters not be allowed to visit the schools their children attend, and that they not be given their names and phone numbers.
It's enough of a shame that less than 1 percent of the 300 million Americans are charged with protecting and defending all the rest of us. They and their families do all the fighting and dying and suffering and sacrificing for all of us.

...snip...

Cont'd at: http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_3964429

[Catchawave]

1. Thanks for your votes

:hi:

[babylonsister]

2. Kick! nt

[Captain Hilts]

3. Roosevelt, Kennedy, Churchill, and Windsor kids served.

Not to mention the professional athletes and film stars who enlisted.

Gen.George C. Marshall and presidential adviser Harry Hopkins lost children in the war.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Even the British royal family serves

I heard that even Prince Harry may actually go to Iraq.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Yes, the Windsor kids serve in all wars. nt

[Catchawave]

10. Prince Charles in Grenada?

I remember that.

Makes me wonder if Tony Blair saw service?

[Canuckistanian]

11. Even the Queen herself was a mechanic in WWII

And no, Tony the Poodle never served anywhere except on Shrub's disinformation team.

[Captain Hilts]

12. I don't remember Chuck in Grenada - Thatcher wasn't warned about the war.

But Chuck did serve.

Andy fought in the Falklands War.

And QEII herself served as a truck mechanic. That's why she's in uniform in those VE Day photographs at The Buck House.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

4. If we go to war, the ruling elite's families should lead the way.

Make it a law. Include every Congressman, Senator, the President, Vice-President and every cabinet level official in the administration.

[Captain Hilts]

13. I think that should include "Punch" Sulzberger's kids too.

His paper helped fuel this war.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. kick

:kick:

[rolleitreks]

8. The statistics are a little misleading --

in 1956 you had to serve in the military -- remember Elvis?

[Catchawave]

9. Remember the Everly Brothers ?

My husband's inspiration for joining the marines in the early 60's was seeing them in uniform on the Ed Sullivan show !

He retired as a Colonel in 1991.