“Also the draft age at the time was 21. FDR wanted to lower it to 19”.
During the Battle of the Bulge, manpowerer shortages for infantrymen was so critical that 18 year olds were being drafted. 18 to 64 were required to register.
Those young men were given abbreviated training and sent to the front asap. General Marshall shuddered to think about it.
The Battle of the Bulge began 75 years ago today
Was that from poor planning on our part I wonder?