A few months ago, a regular contributor in his letter said that U.S. armed forces recruiting was doing well because the volunteers filling the quotas were patriotic Americans, including his niece and her husband. A few of his critics claimed the ranks were filling with less-educated, poorer youth because their need for jobs outweighed the risk of going to war. Not true.
Results of a detailed, technical demographic study by Tim Kane of the Heritage Foundation of every recruit since 1999 were published this year. The results are summarized in my February 2007 issue of The American Legion Magazine.
The report shows the percentage of volunteers from our richest neighborhoods rose dramatically after the terrorist attack. The call of duty is working best in middle- and upper-class neighborhoods. Also, the high school graduation rate of enlistees in 2003, 2004 and 2005 was 97 percent. The civilian graduation rate during the same time was 80 percent. Finally, the fatality rates in Iraq are also very low due to the education and training of each recruit.
Maybe JFK summarized our spirit of patriotism best when he urged us to "ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country" -- not the amount of the enlistment bonus.
Donald J. Lahd
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Crosby, Minn.
