COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: War Protests: General
Caught in the line of political fire
PARIS ACHEN, Mail Tribune
August 21, 2005
Clutching a drill rifle loaded with plastic bullets, 16-year-old MichaelGraber crawled face down on the cool, green grass at Hawthorne Park.
Reaching a wall of sandbags, he grabbed a blank grenade and hurled it
at atree.
In the background, a banner showing the number of casualties from the
war in Iraq hung from a picnic table surrounded by peace activists handing
out pamphlets on alternatives to joining the military, such as college
grants.
The "Soldier for a Day" event held Saturday by recruiters from the U.S.
Army Career Counselor Center in Medford and the countermove by
protesters highlighted the ongoing debate over the war.
"If participants are seriously considering enlisting, we want them to
know there are alternatives for their future instead of possibly killing and
being killed," said Grady Boyd, a peace activist from Ashland. "We
would also like to give the message to military recruiters that we are part
of a national group that’s watching what recruiters are doing and what
they are promising young people."
The free event was publicized as a way to give young people a taste of
what it’s like to be in the Army. The 13 participants went through an
early morning exercise routine, obstacle course and classes in first aid,
map reading and land navigation.
But some war objectors said the event was a sugar-coated example of the
military designed to reel in teenagers and twenty-somethings who need
money for college.
"If the Army is going to do recruitment, they should show guys lying
down with their limbs blown off," said Medford resident Laurie Terrall,
whose son recently joined the Marine Corps against her wishes.
Protester Tana Domecq-Davis of the Little Applegate Valley said she
supports the troops in Iraq but not the war.
"We don’t want more young people killed for a lie," said Domecq-Davis,
referring to the apparent absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,
despite government claims.
Recruiter supervisor Sgt. Konrad Wilson said he makes sure recruits and
their families know of the possibility of combat.
"We don’t try to hide it, but it’s not something we plaster on the wall,"
Wilson said.
Many of the participants said they are considering enlisting in the
military to fund their college education.
Scott Guthrie, 21, of Central Point joined the Army two weeks ago as an
infantryman with the promise of a $20,000 bonus, a college education and
an assignment in Europe.
Guthrie said the Medford recruiter who helped him enlist didn’t mention
the possibility of going to Iraq. But Guthrie said he asked about his
chances of deployment in Iraq when he signed up in Portland.
"They said the chances are low because they’re not shipping many more
over there," Guthrie said. He said he did not support the invasion of Iraq
but now hopes the military can help the people there.
Some participants said they are considering the military because that’s
the best option available to them.
"It’s basically something to do," said 20-year-old Daniel Davis, who is
unemployed.
Others said they want to serve their country.
Graber said his decision to join the military was prompted by his mother’s
recent death of Lou Gehrig’s disease, a neuromuscular disease that
destroys motor skills.
"War is never a good thing, but we have a chance to give Iraqis freedom,"
said Graber, who dreams of one day opening a pizzeria. "I’d rather do
something to give people freedom than do nothing."
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