Posted on 06/04/2006 6:15:58 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Karen Dandridge, Richard Forrest Jr. and Rolando Medina all graduated from high school last week and live only a couple of miles apart, but they never ran with the same crowd until now.
The U.S. Army has brought them together.
Fresh from proms and final exams, they have made the life-changing decision to volunteer for the Army, even as public opinion of Operation Iraqi Freedom sags and casualties climb. Like the 73,373 nationwide who raised their hands for Army duty last year, these three came to the South Holland recruiting station with their own reasons for signing up.
They will be welcomed into a military that has struggled lately to fill its ranks. Last year, the Army missed its goal of enlisting 80,000 active-duty soldiers by 6,627--the largest shortfall since 1979. Enlistment of both African-Americans and women has particularly suffered in recent years.
The three recruits all live in Calumet City--a town that closely resembles the nation as a whole when comparing economic and social characteristics, including the number of veterans as a percentage of the population.
Thomas Jefferson once wrote to James Monroe that every citizen should be a soldier at some point.
"This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state," he argued, believing that service improved both the military and the man.
This does not happen today in the United States, of course. There is no universal conscription. There is no draft. Instead, people like Dandridge, Forrest and Medina elect to serve.
Their motives range from patriotism to pay. Although their paths to the Army have been their own, they now enter this new endeavor with similar measures of fear and fortitude.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Isn't that the location of the Red Dawn movie?
There are hero,s born every day, this is there time and they will do there best.
Red Dawn was set in a fictional town called Calumet, Colorado.
Great movie!
Karen Dandridge, Richard Forrest Jr. and Rolando Medina all graduated from high school last week and live only a couple of miles apart, but they never ran with the same crowd until now.
The U.S. Army has brought them together.
One of the most important lessons I learned from the Air Force was working with people that I had nothing in common with.
Nope. Cal City is south suburban Chicago.
No one has to serve, but only those who have may vote.
Calling all Freepers.
My son came to us last week and said he was interested in joining the military and wanted our advice as to which branch to join.
I am at a complete loss as neither my spouse nor I have ever served.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Excellent point!!
"Odds are you'll go over, you might as well learn the best and right way to do things."
I concurred. We made sure his head was on straight, that he really had a good clear realistic, unglorified picture (seek out some vets-old ones are the best, they've got the wisdom of sages), and then, all that was left to do was cover him in prayer before he left home and we've never let up since he left. God bless you all.
Invite the recruiters(one by one) to your house and sit around the kitchen table with your son and see what each branch has to offer...then decide.....make sure everything you want is written in the contract.....Good luck....and thank your son for wanting to serve....HOO'AH..
Air Force if you want an education and decent living conditions. Navy is you want good chow Marines if you REALLY want to see some action. I was drafted, so I had no choice - but I enjoyed my service with some of the best soldiers in the world.
So the second question answered is .. Why?
After that ... then check out the different branches.
Is he planing to be career military or just four years?
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