Funny that you're so knowledgeable about war.
My dad was there, served honorably, and came back swearing he would never criticize anyone who avoided that clusterf@ck, and would do everything in his power to prevent any of his children from being subjected to such incompetence.
No one is asked their opinion of going.
They are simply asked to go.
Your dad was there.
My dad was there (two wars).
My father in law was there.
My uncles were there.
My grandfather was there (WWII).
Relatives on both sides of our families in every war since the American Revolution.
The man who gave me my first job was there (two wars).
I have relatives there (Middle East) now, including a Ranger.
We have neighbors and friends and cousins and local citizens there now. We live amidst several bases.
Men and women are always “there”.
I’ve been to funerals for people who made it back from “there” and resumed life, and for those who did not.
One of my earliest memories was being given a doll from Vietnam by a relative returning. My dad and I had seen him off before he went.
Another memory was the brother of an uncle by marriage coming home and not being able to handle it. His funeral was hard.
Not many people want to go, but everyone knows that if you don’t go, someone goes for you.
That has •always• been the way it has worked. You go, or another mother’s son goes.