My, my, my.
The United States had 16 million men under arms in World War 2. The vast majority were drafted, or enlisted (as I did) to beat the draft.
Golly, we didn't know that there's no place in this country for a draft.
Live and learn.
Are you saying you didn't want to go and fight? That is what is implied when you say you enlisted to 'beat' the draft. Your words indicate a certain reluctance, IMO.
Tuor
Was there such a lack of American Character, in the early 40's, that we wouldn't have been able to muster enough combat troops and defend the nation without involuntary conscription?
Was the draft instituted during WWII when we started running out of volunteers or was it instituted just to make sure there wasn't a chance of running out of volunteers?
If you think we wouldn't have been able to fight that war without the draft you would be the first person, from that generation, that I've ever heard with that opinion.