MovieChat Forums > The Pacific (2010) Discussion > were marines drafted during WW2?

were marines drafted during WW2?

posted 9 years ago by shwen
7 replies | jump to latest

questions about a couple of scenes:

1. when John Basilone was training new marines in California, at first there were only two recruits, after a while there were more shown up just before they were mobilized for Iwo Jima battle. does this mean towards the end of ww2, getting new recruits was not a priority anymore?

2. In Okinawa battle, one of the guys, Bill, who had a imaginary hot wife, said he was drafted into marine, then everyone started laughing at him, why?

[–] FModerators 9 years ago

Serving during WWII was a calling to such a degree that some committed suicide when they were disqualified. To have served only because you were drafted was the exception and not the rule. You might as well have a tattoo on your forehead that read COWARD.

[–] kingg-2 9 years ago

No, it wasn't. Every unit had draftees in it. Not everyone wanted to fight, for any number of reasons.

[–] kingg-2 9 years ago

The unit forming at that time at Pendleton was the 5th Marine Division. It was new, and being cobbled together by veterans coming back from the Pacific and new recruits. Basilone was one of the first arrivals, so for a week or two the unit only existed on paper.

[–] lvrepoman 9 years ago

Marines were very much drafted during WWII. Korea and Vietnam, also, if I'm not mistaken.

The idea that only cowards waited to be drafted is absurd. Because nearly all men of a particular age were certain to serve, it was considered perfectly acceptable to wait to have your number called. One way or another, you were going to serve.

"He was running around like a rooster in a barnyard full of ducks."--Pat Novak

[–] murad23 8 years ago

That is only half accurate. Yes it is true most US service personnel in WWII were draftees. about 33% of US soldiers who fought in WWII volunteers WWII, while 81% of those who fought in Vietnam were volunteers.

It gives lie to many of the tropes of the "greatest vernation" and gives lie to the idea that any but a small number or US troops in Vietnam were there against their will.

That said in WWII there is an issue with average age. My dad volunteered and was graduated halfway though his highs school year with other volunteers on his 18th birthday in Jan 44. By November he was fighting in the Pacific in the Airborne in some of the most horrific fighting. By May 45 he was a 19-year-old Sergeant. By early July training for opposed invasion of Japan, but thankfully due to the atomic bombings by late August he flew into Japan to be part of the occupation.

But his age was actually unusual. the average age in Vietnam was 22 years old, whereas the average age of inducted troops in WW was 26.

This is before the GI bill and in fact a 26-year-old could well be 10 years into a working career and joining up was a major disruption in life. There are studies that indicate that most draftees in WWII would not have served if not drafted.

[–] Bill-16 8 years ago

My dad couldn't enlist until February 1942 because even though he was 20 yrs old both parents were dead and he was breadwinner for brothers and sisters. His brothers that were too old took in the sisters and then my dad and other young brother enlisted.
Even that early, pressure was on young men who didn't join up by others in community. There were many who held jobs that were vital to war effort and were needed at home too.

[–] ATG6 (3000) a year ago

I thought only the Army drafted people. People volunteered to join the Navy (there was no separate Air Force yet) and the Marines. I guess at the end of the war they were running low on Marines so some of the draftees went there. They would have had to meet higher physical standards though, I assume.