Twice before in its 176-year history, the proud U.S. Marine Corps had trained draftees to fill its ranks, but not until last week did it have to ask for them. Enlistments were now below the corps' 6,000-man monthly recruiting quota. Furthermore, 75,000 reservists on active duty are soon to be let out, and the Marines* are already hard put to fill their ranks. Selective Service promised the Marines 13,000 draftees in the next two months and more later if enlistments keep on sagging.
In 1918 and again in 1943, the Marine Corps was ordered to take draftees, not because it...
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