The same stuff happens today. I graduated with 4 close friends in college that went to serve in Iraq.
One of them was waiting on his citizen papers to go in as an officer but decided to enlist before that to 'not miss the war'. He didn't eat and ran all week to lose the last few pounds to qualify. Right now he's on track to be an officer.
Another friend of mine joined the Army on his 18th birthday straight out of high school. He's a Major now and has been in Iraq since the start.
I felt like joining but didn't even come close to qualifying. I just lost almost 100 pounds and I'm thinking about joining when I get fit enough.
I’m grateful for your friends. May we as a nation be worthy of them.