The article in some newspapers by Kathleen Parker, "Women in Combat, not a movie or a game," sounds all right until you stop and consider all the men drafted in the United States through the years. During the Vietnam Conflict, men were drafted right out of college. I know as I was one of them in 1968.
During WW II, the Korean War, Vietnam and other wars, the U.S. relied on the draft to mandate men to fight wars. During Vietnam alone, 1.7 million men were drafted. There were over 9 million men serving in active duty and over 3 million in country in Vietnam, with over 50,000 men killed. The draft was ending in 1975 and it is now an all-volunteer military in America.
So, Ms. Parker’s point that women should not serve in combat in the military because they have 50 percent less upper body strength, according to her, is a moot point and pales in comparison to the above stated numbers.
During Vietnam, women served in country and were mostly nurses. They were all officers and all volunteers, as they enlisted on their own accord. In other words, it was their choice to serve and it still is their choice. No woman has ever been drafted in America. All the women who now serve are volunteers. No women are mandated to serve in the military, and therefore, no women are mandated to be in combat. It’s their choice. I believe that women should have a choice and the military agrees.
Tom King
Shaftsbury, Vt.
Jan.
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