Customer Reviews

AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service -- and How It Hurts Our Country

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These two authors, one a Republican and one a Democrat, have written a provocative and very timely book about the large portion of society that doesn't see military service as fit for "their" kind of people.

The book starts with an astonishing anecdote. The draft was initiated for World War I because Congress thought too many of the country's elites would rush to fight (and maybe die) for the country!

That concept simply could not even be comprehended today, where the children of our current elected leaders in Washington, DC, with a few noticeable exceptions, would rather avoid serving the country in the military.

The authors identify several symptoms of the problem: Recruiters who are discouraged from even bothering to look for potential troops at elite private universities, and instead recruit from state and small Christian schools in the south; the hostility of some parents to recruiters even talking to their children; and the rise of the "me" culture and the attendant devolution of the call to service (We certainly never heard that call after 9/11).

This is an important book. While the authors sometimes get bogged down or distracted--for example in their attempt to give a brief history of four different schools of thought of US foreign policy (leave that to Walter Russell Meade please)--their thesis is powerful and important. Besides, some of their most moving sections are from testimonials from current and former servicemembers on what duty and service means.

I highly recommend this book.

Frank Schaeffer, a terrifc writer whether in the world of military, religion, or fiction brings his considerable skills with Kathy Roth-Douquet to bear on this seminal work on this nations upperclass' failures to support the military in deed, but often provide support with pale words.(I must admit to finding Frank one of the most skilled populist writers around today, and whether in agreement or not, he is a great communicator)

The book provides observations and yes, research, and although I have very minor quibbles, (Kathy, gives Clinton too much credit, although she is at times critical as well and while the military did a fine job, the stopping of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo has in reality, just caused other problems in reverse; and Frank supports a lottery draft, potentially problematic, albiet historically, it works more often than not - I prefer Kathy's option) these two authors provide great analysis and insight.

The strengths of this book are many: one, on how the military recruits on college campus and spends its money on ROTC programs faults our leaders for not engaging the upperclass. While this is understandable due to ivy league hostilities, it still needs to be pursued; two, the lack of moral clarity among our upperclasses ("me" and my "choice") is staggering and since these are the people generally with money, they are ripe for politcal leadrership, therefore, possibly using military men and women for their gains in foreign worlds, while not always properly equiping this same military to do the job; thirdly, the "not for people like us" is insightful and speaks to a snobbish group, again, lacking any moral clarity, especially when sacrafices are needed from them.

Lastly, the authors make an important point that liberal elites in particular just do not get: That being in the military is not a job decided on "do I support this war or that war", but a calling to serve. Knowing that if one only joined in military operations one agreed with, there would not be a military that could responed to protect this country. Military members only obey the President, they do not serve him, but the America people and our founding documents. This point is leveled graciously, but forcefully, and thank goodness.

Now, hopefully, our political readers will read and heed, before middle-class and poor Americans decide they want to be selfish too, then who will provide our Country's security?

Thank you Frank and Kathy.

This is one of those books where you hope more Americans will read it but sadly realize those who should wont. Kathy Roth-Douquet and Frank Schaeffer do an excellent job writing about how their thinking evolved as far as the military is concerned, both with her husband being in the military (Marines) and then Franks son joining (Marines).

Especially interesting is how she shares growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, attending Bryn Mawr College and basically living a wonderful life, lacking in nothing. Being an active Democrat, working in the Clinton White House where on page 14 she writes 'The military people we knew were so impressive - tall and direct, knowledgeable about their jobs, dedicated'. Not what some of us were led to believe by some 'conservatives' who suggested the Clinton White House detested the military.

Frank writes of 1970 and getting married to Genie whom he raves about and how they to led a life surrounded by the right people and then 1999 arrived and his youngest son, John, was about to ship off to boot camp on Parris Island. The way he writes of what an eye opening experience this was is excellent. Bearing in mind these are families where military service wasn't the norm.

Unlike my family where my Dad was a POW during WW2, my husband was in the California National Guard and foster sons now serve in the guard with one due to ship to Iraq this month. My ancestors have fought in every war going back to the before we were a government. Some traveled west with Captain Fremont on his trek to California who over saw the first California Volunteer Militia. I also note that we all attended college.

Reading the honest feelings of these two writers and the comments friends made when they discovered a husband, a son were in the military, by choice is sad at times. On page 23 Frank writes 'I felt ashamed of feeling embarrassed by the fact that John was not in college. When my neighbors, people who went to Harvard and drove Saabs, asked about where John was in school, I mentioned that Francis, my 'other son' got the top academic award at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. 'My daughter is living in Scandinavia and doing graduate studies and raising two children and speaks three languages and is running a successful ceramics business....' I felt like Judas. Nevertheless I let everyone know that John could have gone anywhere and that he 'chose the Marines as a poet chooses to write about it later'. I came up with all sorts of bullshit like that. 'He wants to live large,' I lamely said.


This has got to be one of best books I have read this year. A book I might add that every parent should read. Especially those who profess to be conservative, religious and patriotic because as the authors note very few of the upper class be they Republican or Democrat have a son, daughter or even a relative serving in any military branch of the services.

On page 43: 'In 1956, 400 out of 750 in Princeton's graduating class went into the military. In contrast, in 2004, 9 members of Princeton's graduating class entered the services, and they LED the Ivy League in numbers'. (emphasis added by me). Or as the authors note on page 30 a few pages back 'Privileged folks may be proud of the troops, but most contemporary men and women in uniform are strangers to the most influential segment of society. Mark Shields, syndicated columnist, former Marine, and PBS pundit, noted in a recent essay on this subject that 'probably nobody at any Washington dinner party tonight - liberal or conservative, Bush appointee or Democratic holdover-personally knows of any enlisted man or woman now defending the nation.' Not to long ago the sons of presidents, bankers, and oilmen regularly served. This was even true of powerful dynasties such as the Roosevelt's, the Kennedy's, the Sulzbergers (owners and publishers of the New York Times), and the Bushes. Now, however not one grandchild from those powerful dynasties serves'.

I was humbled and proud reading how Frank would visit Harlem and a jazz club where veterans from other wars played on a regular basis and how these gentle, class black men embraced Frank and took him under their wing. Likewise Frank reminds the reader of the sacrifices they made and the bigotry they endured, and that more patriotic men you wont find anywhere in America.
Beginning on page 224 the authors offer some excellent ideas on how we can make the volunteer military more fair and equal so that more upper class or privileged kids will have to join. Like Reform current military recruiting and personnel policy. Change Federal student aid and introduce a tax credit. 'The current system of federal financial aid grew out of the G I Bill but now, as Charles Moskos has pointed out, it is a 'GI Bill without the Gi'. He proposes reinstating its original intent as a vehicle for rewarding veterans for their service and making federal financial aid contingent on providing some service to your country'. YES!!!!!

Scale up the Army citizen - Soldier Option. Create a National Service Lottery. I so agree, because we are or have become a nation of citizens who think they are entitled to so much, but are never required to give anything back. Universal service - Military and National Service. Again I agree 100%. As the author quotes 'Universal service could provide some much needed 'social glue' to an embattled American society that is growing increasingly diverse - by race, national origin, and religious preference - where many young Americans from well to do families grow up and go to school hermetically sealed social environments...'. Universal Service II Manning the HomeFront and Policing Abroad, which would required a draft, not for combat soldiers, but for noncombat positions and to address the increased needs on the homefront that emerge from the War on Terror (page 227).

Alas this book couldn't have come at a better time. And I end by adding, that I live in Amador County in California a nice drive southwest of Lake Tahoe, where the voter turn out for the state, ranks us #1, #2 sometimes. Most homes fly a flag, most cars have 'Support the Troops' yellow magnetic ribbons on them. But a lot of vehicles also have stickers that denote sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters now serving in some branch of the military. Contrast that to a two hour drive west to the bay area where you see little of what we see.

Ironcially I have most of the books Frank Schaeffers Father had written and I had assumed that being conservative, and Christian that the family would have been gungho for anything patriotic, including military service and have to admit I was a tad surprised to read that Frank was so taken aback, yet would become so profoundly proud of his son John, and with good reason.

I was raised in the 60's and the 70's during the Vietnam war. The focus for many of us in those days was avoiding the war at all costs. We were brought up to question authority, be skeptical of what the government told us, and to believe that war is hell and never a solution.

As I age and watch world events unfold, e.g. Rwanda, Cambodia, Kosovo, Darfur, and 9/11, the point is well taken that evil does exist, that not everyone is well intentioned or rational, and that dialog can't resolve all conflicts. I have learned too that the international community can be slow to react or fail to react at all. Tragically, there is a time and a place for military intervention e.g. when no other efforts can stop genocide and all other less intrusive options fail. Where inaction is shameful.

Who do we look to to defend innocent populations, or to protect us at home? For the most part, we voice unending support for our troops regardless of how we feel about the policies or the policy makers. But most of us do not concern ourselves with who has to do the fighting or who is stepping up to the plate. We assume that those who can, get a good education, get high paying jobs, etc. and those who can't, join the military. Fewer of our policy makers, those who make life and death policy decisions involving the military, have any military experience. Most of us theoretically believe in service but never really consider serving. It's too dangerous, it's too disruptive, it's too distasteful.

Where is the equity in letting others fight battles that we agree need to be fought?

Many think Iraq was a gigantic mistake. Certainly, most persons of my generation cringe when the Vietnam War is mentioned. This is not a book about whether any particular confict is right or wrong. Reasonable persons disagree. It is about admitting to ourselves that we are biased and hypocritical. We (I) insist on our government's intervention to prevent mass slaughter of innocent lives, and to protect our own, but expect others to do the fighting for us. It is about the danger to the country of having policy makers make decisions in a vacuum without any relevant experience to guide them.

Very few of us know persons in uniform. From a distance, we easily discount those serving as uneducated, callous, violent, and misguided. The authors show us that our assumptions are largely incorrect and that the military indeed has persons of honor, intelligence, and commitment. It is not a monolith and is as diverse as the general population. Each day there are untold moving stories of heroism and sacrifice.

The book forced me to re-evaluate 40 years of beliefs. Thank you to the authors for raising the issue, warning of its current and future consequences, and reminding all of us to do the right thing.

A thoughtful and sincere commentary on the relationship between American civilians and our modern military. The authors do an excellent job of "outing" a serious social disconnect - an issue that never gets the attention it should... AWOL is a must-read for anyone involved in the dialog of our time.

The research behind this book was impressive - it was also a well reasoned and fair balanced discussion. I found myself in several instances regretting that I have not done more to support the military in this country and their families who support them. This book has forever changed my beliefs about service in the military and their supporting families back home. This book is a must read for everyone!

AWOL is the most important book I've read in 10 years. It is also one of the most moving. A friend who reviews books for the Washington Post sent me an andvance copy. I couldn't put it down.

I had read Frank Schaeffer's incredible novels like Portofino, Zermatt and Saving Grandma, the most amusing and lovely books by any American author of his generation, not to mention the most perceptive about American religion and its impact on family life. And then I read Schaeffer's military non-fiction works like Keeping Faith--A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps and Faith Of Our Sons--A Father's Wartime Diary. So I was primed! (Expect to cry and/or laugh-out-loud all through his books.) But I had no idea that AWOL would literally floor me with its power. And his new co-author Kathy Roth Douquet is wonderful. Together they pack a graceful literary punch that leaves you gasping and turning the pages.

Here at last is a book that deals honestly with the military/class divide. How have we come to the point where mostly middle and lower class Americans volunteer for military service while places like Harvard, Yale and company are full of members of America's elite acting as if somehow they are ordained by God to never have to serve their (our) country ever again?

AWOL explains what has happened, how we've gone from a country where the sons of presidents used to serve to a place where we'd be shocked if one of the Bush children volunteered.

The New York Times, the Bush family and the Kennedy clan may all have differing politics but they have voted with their feet when it comes to service: liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican our "upper classes" all agree: Not With My Child! Send Someone Else!

Schaeffer and Douquet come at this subject from a personal and hands-on expereince of life in the military family. And they offer a sane and reasoned way back to a fair place where we all do our bit for the country regardless of our politics.

Anyone in the military will cheer AWOL and the rest of us need to take a deep breath and read this book before the country sends our men and women into more military adventures. This is not a book written from the left or right. It is that rare thing in this "red" and "blue" state divided America: A Genuine "must read" for all Americans.

AWOL bridges the values of the Red State - Blue State divide over our military involvement in Iraq from a Blue State beginning vantage point by two authors whose loved ones involved themselves in military careers by a choice of the heart.

I am so glad I read this book! I served in the Marine Corps, married a Marine, and have a daughter in the Navy--but somewhere along the way I had developed an anti-military attitude. I don't know how it happened, and this book really made me rethink my attitude toward the service. I have a grandson who is a senior in high school, and I would have been horrified if he would have even suggested that he was considering joining up. Now I am going to suggest he think about it. This is a book every American should read!

I write these comments admittedly from the perspective of an individual that has valued our country's military branches and its veterans.

For the sake of full disclosure, my father served in World War II as a US Naval Officer. He became a Naval officer after turning down a scholarship to the University of Vermont and enlisting out of high school. The Navy enrolled him in their V-12 program. I spent a year as a member of the Air Force's ROTC program during the final year of the draft and the Vietnam War. My college's corps was closed and I have never served. Know my son is waiting to hear if he will get a medical exemption so that he can accept the ROTC scholarship that he was awarded. By the way, my son was adopted from India and is very grateful for what this, his, county has provided.

We are not of the "Upper Class" but my son is a graduate of an Independent Prep School in Maryland and was schooled with many from the "Upper Classes"

This book speaks volumes to me and states so eloquently what I have thought but was unable to put in to words. AWOL reminds us of our responsibility, as citizens, to this county. It poignantly addresses the issues of our future leadership in this county and our needs. Those that either agree or disagree with the current direction that we are taking both at home and abroad should read this with an open mind.

As an unabashed conservative I gained a better recognition of what our leaders experience and what they could experience and maybe what they should experience.

Kathy and Frank, offer opinions and suggestions that should at the very least start a National debate.

To them I offer my services and my time, it is the least I can do. As a father and as an American, I will be providing copies of this book to my son's friends and their families as well as the Headmaster of his Prep School and the School's library.