How many of us DU'ers belong to a gold star family.....

[mrmpa]

32. I've stated before.........

that if you want to meet a pacifist, talk to a veteran of war. My dad certainly was. He made sure that my older brother went to college for his student deferment.

There was also a kid on our street, whose father had died. When it was time to graduate high school, he knew he was going to be drafted. He talked to my dad (a 16 year member of the Marine Corps). My dad talked him into enlisting in the Air Force. My dad's reason for this at the time, was that it was the only branch of the service where enlisted men did not fight in battle.

When my dad died, I remember this kid saying "he was just like a father to me."

When I wanted to join the service, at that time if a woman was under 21, they had to have their parent(s) signature to do so, my parents wouldn't do it, however my dad had me contact a US Senator who was trying to get women admitted to the Service Academies (this was 1974). In late '75 or early '76, I had a call from this Senator telling me to let him know what Academy I wanted to attend. By then I had 2 years of college under my belt & didn't want to start all over again. God was my dad smart.