I guess when the war is at home or for what a person feels is in the best interests of their family and country, people are more inclined to join, and like you said, they are worth their weight in gold.
I knew a lot of guys I went to school with that were just eighteen or so, crying and scared to death of dying (which some did) because they were drafted to go fight a war in a jungle thousands of miles away for what reason they didn’t understand. And the news was telling them it was a losing war. They had plans for their young lives and it was gone.
The thing that upsets me about our wars is the rules of engagements, etc., seems to cause more casualties on our side than we should have. I’ve read that we had Vietnam won until politicos caused us to lose it.
Did you serve?
God bless you if you did