'Too Young to Be Scared'

摘要

Between the two World Wars, and especially once the Great Depression hit, getting into one of the armed services was almost as big of an accomplishment as getting accepted into an Ivy League college. For the lucky few, being in the U.S. Navy meant having three meals a day, a place to sleep, and the opportunity to learn a trade that could continue to benefit them professionally later on as civilians. Many Depression-era Americans worried that another economic downturn could occur. As a result, many servicemen-even former prisoners of war-elected to serve until retirement.