Draft makes argument moot
Kathleen Parker’s article, “Women in combat not a movie or a game,” about women serving in combat in the U.S. military sounds okay until you stop and think about the years gone by in America and the draft. During WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and other times, only men have been drafted into the active duty in the military in America. During the Vietnam conflict, men were drafted right out of college; I know, I was one of them in 1968. During Vietnam alone, there were 1,728,344 men drafted during the period from 1965-1973. There were nine million serving in active duty, over three million in country in Vietnam and over 50,000 killed; 7,484 women served in Vietnam and 6,250 were nurses and all of the women had enlisted (volunteered). All nurses were officers in non-combat situations. Eight nurses were killed. This is not including the wounded and the other wars where only men were drafted. No women have ever been drafted in America. In 1975, the draft was ended and the military is now all volunteer.
So, Ms. Parker’s argument against women in combat because they have 50 percent less upper body strength, according to her, is a moot point and pales in comparison to the above mentioned numbers. No woman is mandated to serve in the military, and therefore, no woman is mandated to serve in combat. Discussion ended.
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