The Dough Boys

What do you see in this old vet's eyes?  He doesn't seem too imposing does he?  There's an interesting piece of WWI history I read some years ago about the Dough Boys.  It took America some time to get into the first world war.  America watched from afar as Europe decimated the flower of its youth in trenches and open fields that were gradually bombarded to a fine powder.  Neither side ever gained a real tactical advantage but the Germans were able to obtain the upper hand.  That is, until the Dough Boys got in their way.  Three out of four of these American young men could not shoot at the German soldiers who advanced upon them, and that to me reveals a beautiful characteristic of our Nation.  Many around the world may see this gentle nature as weakness or may think it a lack of conviction, but I say the opposite.  The rugged Germans, by that time battle hardened and experienced, were unable to break the lines of their unshakable American counterparts.  This little detail is unfortunately all but forgotten today as are the Dough Boys that made up the American Expeditionary Force in Europe nearly a hundred years ago.  Whatever the underlying political machinations that direct our men into war may have been or may be, it is my conviction our servicemen are, by and large, goodly men of good spiritual character who do not delight in bloodshed nor the terror of those who stand opposite them on the battlefield.  Their character and courage are reflective of the nation in which they are raised.  Too many of us see only the skewed, perverted point of view that Hollywood presents to us.  I hope we'll remember or seek to learn the true nature of our Grandfathers, Fathers, Uncles, Cousins, Brothers, and Sons, in short, our Countrymen.    

For an outstanding, unbiased and nonpolitical inside look into the efforts of our present day servicemen and women in the War on Terror, go to www.michaelyon-online.com.