Comments on: A Whole Generation Rushing to Volunteer

By: Redan

Redan — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 22:10:58 +0000

My father and uncles were working in Henry J. Kaiser’s Richmond Shipyards in California at the time (a damn good job in the Depression).

They all tried to volunteer for military service on Monday 8 December, but were initially turned away, as shipbuilders were ‘essential war workers.’

Once replacements could be hired by Kaiser, they re-volunteered and were accepted — in 1942.

Today, the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park occupies the site of Richmond Shipyard Number Two. It is well worth a visit.

By: Joseph Moroco

Joseph Moroco — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:38:53 +0000

I did not read everything in the link, but I suspect Bryan Caplan has not flown to the colors at any point in his life.

Good to know he is one of us (except I did enlist).

By: Space Nookie

Space Nookie — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 07:41:09 +0000

Pentagon: 7 in 10 Youths Would Fail to Qualify for Military Service.

By: Purpleslog

Purpleslog — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 05:29:38 +0000

I am pretty sure men were asked to wait for their draft call-ups (the selective service and the draft were already running). Lots of volunteers would have been going into the marines (not really part of the draft) and the Navy.

By: Kudzu Bob

Kudzu Bob — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 03:25:49 +0000

It makes me feel a little better about that generation to learn that so few of its members were eager to be slaughtered in a stupid war that was not in America’s national interest.

By: Joseph Moroco

Joseph Moroco — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 23:12:23 +0000

So much for the greatest generation. Feeling better about my boomer self, or at least not as bad.