“When I was studying law, and Mr. Keefer here was writing his stories, and you, Willie, were tearing up the playing fields of dear old Princeton, who was standing guard over this fat, dumb, happy country of ours, eh? Not us. Oh, no! We knew you couldn’t make any money in the service. So who did the dirty work for us? Queeg did! And a lot of other guys, tough, sharp guys who didn’t crack up like Queeg.” LT Barney Greenwald (Jose Ferrer) in the movie The Caine Mutiny (1954)
I do a lot of reading and watch old war movies. One of my favorite movies and books is Herman Wouk’s classic The Caine Mutiny. It is quite an amazing story, the book is better but the epic performance of Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg is something to behold. The quote above comes from the movie and I think accurately portrays how most Americans; especially those of privilege have viewed military service not only then but now.
I always find that I become more introspective around Veterans Day. Perhaps it is the fact that military life, service and history are so deeply woven into the tapestry of my life. Perhaps it is because veterans beginning with my dad had such a great impact on my life. Perhaps it is because I fell in love with military service as an ideal as a mere child.
I know that is not uncommon as many men that served with distinction in the military, that of the United States as well as in countries around the world tell similar stories. In the United Statesthere have been some families that were or continue to be associated with the military going back generations. What is fascinating to me is that the military tradition of this country, with the exception of the mass levees of draftees required in the World Wars that was continued through the Vietnam War that most who have served have been volunteers going back to the earliest times.
It has always been a perilously small minority often discriminated against who have heeded the call to serve in war and peace and the countless wars of peace that make up our history. The burden of the American Revolution was carried by a very small part of the population and such has been the case for most of our history. Today only about one half of one percent of the population serves in the military and that in a time where theUnited States has been at war for over a decade.
But this is nothing new. It was the same in the War of 1812, the Civil War only had about 3% of the population involved as did World War One. World War Two had the largest percentage in the military during our history at just over 9% and the military population of theUnited Stateshas been at or below 1% since the establishment of the All Volunteer force in 1975.
This week as our military is stretched around the globe and our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coastguardsmen serve with distinction and honor as their predecessors did in times before. I will be doing some writing this week about Veterans Day and the Veterans that have made an impact in my life.
If you know a veteran or someone currently serving it is an opportune time not only to thank them but to speak out for them in a time when it appears that support for Veterans’ benefits is eroding in Congress even as we remain at war. As Theodore Roosevelt said “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.”
Peace
Padre Steve+
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 
You might want to catch the movie “Lions For Lambs”. While not exactly pro-military, it does make some excellent points about how those that serve are often those that society has given the worst deal.
I’m sure I’ll stop in before Friday again, but regardless, and as always, Thank You Padre. And God bless you and yours, my friend.