Amazing that you put so little value on freedom or place so much value on money.
You are right about this:
Our soldiers in Iraq offer their lives for a lot less after all -- though most don't do it for the money alone of course.
Though I doubt that any are doing it for money.
Then why do we pay enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses? If some aren't doing it for the money, then they would enlist or re-enlist without the bonus. The fact that it takes a bonus to increase the rates of elistment/re-enlistment indicates that the money is a factor for some people to enlist/re-enlist.