I agree. When I reported for induction into the USN on December 14, 1967 for four years of active duty, most of the guys were going into the army—maybe a couple of hundred— and there were only 50 of us headed to Navy boot camps. At zero eight hundred, a hidden door opened behind a partition and a humongous black gunnery sarge with shiny bald head bellowed “Listen up! When I come out to you army guys, I’ll tap every other one of you and you are going to be U.S. Marines.” Guys were urinating in their bell bottoms and I said a silent prayer that I had signed up for four instead of letting the chips fall for only two.
None of us really liked it but we just did it. Because our male ancestors had fought. Some of our fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins. We did it because we were citizens of the USA and with all the blessings that conferred, there were also the responsibilities. I bet not a one of us even gave a thought to getting the G.I. Bill to pay for college after (and if) we made it through or getting a VA guaranteed mortgage or VA health care. From what I hear from the younger generations, it’s not so much like that any more.
I'm proud of us - and I hope the next generation regains that spirit. We need it if we're going to survive as a country.
Seriously, aren't you just a little bit sorry that the Gunny didn't grab you? The Corps was a kick!