A Matter of Choice

Sweat rolled in glistening rivulets down the clean-shaven face of the man who stood with head bowed and sinewy back leaning against the rough boards of the barrack. Yesterday, the train had brought him from the peaceful, rolling hills of Ohio to this army camp in Kentucky where thousands of soldiers were being trained for overseas combat. He had been standing in the intense heat of the sun now for two hours, waiting for the gunshot that could end his life. He was not there by choice but was a victim of the military draft during World War I when our country was in desperate need of soldiers. The year was 1918 and the man was my grandfather.

When Sol Hostetler arrived at Camp Taylor, he was put in front of a military tribunal to explain why he would not carry weapons, participate in combat duty, or wear a soldier’s uniform. A Mennonite whose church believed the teachings of Jesus demonstrated a non-resistant lifestyle, he was being tested for the things he professed to embrace. Which is why he was placed in front of the barrack with a gun pressed to his back until he either recanted his belief or until the officer could tell he was sincere.

My grandfather, along with a handful of others, paved the way for Conscientious Objectors of War to find a non-combatant place in the U.S. Army. He went on to serve as a cook’s helper and, after fulfilling his time, won the respect of his officers and received an honorable discharge. Others, however, were not so fortunate. Having no religious belief that forbade their participation in war, they were forced into combat duty that took them into trenches of horror, giving their lives for a cause they did not choose.

Now, with our country’s ground forces stretched thin in Afghanistan and Iraq, and with literally hundreds of thousands of troops stationed all over the world, some people think we don’t have enough forces to withstand threats from countries whose oppressive governments are flexing their military muscle. They feel that instituting the draft for a period of time would replenish our troop supply and more adequately prepare us for the future. It would also relieve the burden our soldiers are experiencing by cutting back on their length of duty and giving them more time at home with their families.

Another reason some people think the draft would be beneficial, is that it would bring equality to the sacrifice that is required to defend our nation. According to Marianne Means, a Washington D.C. columnist with Hearst Newspapers, our military is mainly composed of people who come from small towns, farming communities, and lower-income ghettos. She says these people often choose the military as a way of getting a job and a college education, whereas young people from prosperous families already have these opportunities and seldom choose the military.

I spoke with two ex-Marines and asked for their view on this controversial subject. Interestingly enough, they had differing opinions. Jake, with his baby-blue eyes and blonde curls, nodded his head emphatically when asked whether the draft should be re-instated. He said it would be great for every person to experience the sacrifice required to defend our country. He also admitted that he had chosen the military as a way to not only serve his country but to get the education he desired after his time of service was completed, proving Ms. Means’ theory. Chris, on the other hand, was just as emphatic with the opposing view. “Absolutely not!” was his explosive reply to my question. His dark eyes burned with fiery spirit as he went on to tell me how he had gladly served his country but he no longer believes in the war, nor would he ever re-enlist. He thinks everyone should have a choice and the government should not dictate what a person does with his or her life. However, both Jake and Chris wrapped up their conversations by agreeing that if there came a time of national crisis when our country was under threat of invasion, the draft might be the only course of action left to take.

In conclusion, I echo the sentiments of Lord Roberts, a British Army commander in South Africa during 1915, who wrote, “I hold moreover, that the man who voluntarily serves his country is more to be relied upon as a good fighting soldier than is he who is compelled to bear arms.” I believe that someone who wants to do a job and chooses of their own free will or sense of duty to do that job, is much more likely to be passionate about it than someone who is made to participate in something they don’t agree with or have no motivation to accomplish. While I dearly love this country, and have the highest respect for the soldiers who have defended it throughout history, I believe the decision to enlist in the army should be the choice of a person, not a government.