"At the funeral in North Carolina at the weekend of Sergeant Marvin Miller,
the mourners were furious. Miller, who spent 18 years in the army, was
shot dead in the Iraqi town of Balad. 'It stinks,' his aunt, Annie Miller, told
reporters. 'The president got us into something he doesn't know how to
get out of. It seems like the more killing that goes on over there, the more
troops he's sending.'"


Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon

America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Tuesday April 13, 2004
The Guardian

A grieving father, mourning the death in Baghdad of his soldier daughter,
yesterday begged the Pentagon to send her two sisters home from the war,
saying the family could not bear another loss.

Few American families with US military personnel serving in Iraq had as
much to lose as the Witmers, from New Berlin, Wisconsin. Until Michelle was
killed in an ambush on April 9, they had three daughters in Iraq: Rachel, 24,
and twins Michelle and Charity, 20.

The lives of the sisters, who served in the Wisconsin National Guard, were
chronicled on the family website, which posted their letters and email
messages, and photographs of all three in fatigues.

In a posting to the site last July, Michelle sent out her wishlist for Baghdad's
hot summers. It included family photographs, flip-flops and chocolate, and
"anything that is frivolous like a self-heating face mask or stuff along those
lines ... I like to feel like a girl again sometimes". The latest posting on the
website was grim. "We regret to inform you that Michelle Witmer was killed
in action."

Private Witmer, who died when her Humvee was ambushed in Baghdad,
had served in a military police unit alongside her older sister, Rachel.
Charity, who arrived in Iraq earlier this year, is a medic and also serving in
the Baghdad area.

Their father, John Witmer, told the Associated Press: "I can't live another
year like I've lived this one. The sacrifice that this family's made can never
be understood by someone who hasn't gone through it ... It's a burden I
can't bear. My family can't bear it."

For the Witmers, the heartbreak of Michelle's death was deepened by the
knowledge that she and Rachel were overdue to leave Iraq. In February,
Michelle told the family to stop shipping care packages because they were
due to pull out. "This is a REALLY GOOD SIGN!!" she wrote in an email.
"The redeployment process (though it may be long) is finally beginning!
There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel!"

Instead, Michelle and Rachel's duty was extended for three months as the
Pentagon scrambled for more troops to put down an increasingly bloody
insurrection. Charity arrived in Iraq earlier this year.

The two surviving Witmer sisters were expected to arrive home yesterday
with Michelle's coffin after being granted permission to attend the funeral
tomorrow. Their father is determined that the two should be transferred out
of the war zone.

Joan Apt, a spokeswoman for the family, said the request had been
forwarded to the Pentagon. "We trust that those in charge of making such
a decision will realise that we have already sacrificed enough and that our
family must not be asked to bear such an impossible burden," she said in
a statement.

The Pentagon would not comment on the request yesterday, saying it was
a matter for the Wisconsin National Guard. Under military rules the loss
would not automatically qualify the surviving siblings for a discharge.

Military families traditionally are stoic, but with more than 665 US troops
dead in Iraq - 23 of them in the last three days alone - reserves of strength
are wearing down across America.

At the funeral in North Carolina at the weekend of Sergeant Marvin Miller,
the mourners were furious. Miller, who spent 18 years in the army, was
shot dead in the Iraqi town of Balad. "It stinks," his aunt, Annie Miller, told
reporters. "The president got us into something he doesn't know how to
get out of. It seems like the more killing that goes on over there, the more
troops he's sending."

Michelle, one of five children who were home-schooled together, followed
her sister Rachel into the National Guard, in part to finance her college studies.

In her emails and letters, Michelle said night shift at the local police station
was like "being in the worst ghetto you can ever imagine, at night, in the
dark. I hear gunfire all the time; it's so unnerving!" On September 17 she
recounted an encounter with a roadside bomb. "Quite honestly, it's a miracle
I'm alive right now."

In more private email exchanges with her twin, Charity, she was more direct.
"I hate this place more and more every day," she said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story...190669,00.html



-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

er (Awake) wrote in
news:UBC29F9U38092.0008217593@anonymous:

> A grieving father, mourning the death in Baghdad of his soldier
> daughter, yesterday begged the Pentagon to send her two sisters home
> from the war, saying the family could not bear another loss.
>

This story is already way behind the times. The National Guard has already
sataed that the two remaining daughters have the choice of staying
stateside or returning to the middle east. The choice is entirely theirs.

--
Rick

Visit the Entropy Productions homepage at
http://www.boundtoone.com/entropy.htm

"The Outlaw Salome Wales" > wrote in message
...
>
> >
> > Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> >
> > America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> > ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
>
>
> Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military service
> out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.

I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost their
daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the rules
to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a slain
soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not fine.


--
"Look at any 'democratic' country, like America.
In these countries the real business of 'state' is carried
on by departments, staffs, and bureaus...Parliaments
are only places where chattering goes on with the purpose
of fooling the 'common people'."

V.I. Lenin

in article , The Outlaw Salome Wales
at wrote on 4/15/04 8:17 AM:

>
>>
>> Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
>>
>> America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
>> ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
>
>
> Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military service
> out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
>

It sounds like the parents want the Pentagon to make the decision first,
effectively removing the remaining daughters' right to choose for
themselves. I understand the emotions but it strikes me as somewhat
controlling.


karen E.

The Sullivan brothers were in the Navy during WWII, and went down on the USS
Juneau in 1942. No official military "act" or congressional order has been
passed, it is an "accomodation" the military provides that siblings have the
option of not serving together in a war zone together.


> Haven't you seen Saving Private Ryan?? This is actually a rule in the
> military. They aren't bending anything. The rule says that siblings don't
> have to serve in war together, b/c no parent should have to lose all their
> children for the sake of the military.
>

>
> Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
>
> America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone


Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military service
out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.

In article >, The Outlaw
Salome Wales > wrote:
> Haven't you seen Saving Private Ryan?? This is actually a rule in the
> military. They aren't bending anything. The rule says that siblings don't
> have to serve in war together, b/c no parent should have to lose all
> their children for the sake of the military.

Reference the five Sullivan brothers; all died on the same ship in
Guadalcanal in WWII.
--
-Barb, <www.jamlady.eboard.com> updated 3-29-04.

"Karen eichorst" > wrote in message
...
> in article , The Outlaw Salome
Wales
> at wrote on 4/15/04 8:17 AM:
>
> >
> >>
> >> Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> >>
> >> America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> >> ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
> >
> >
> > Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> > permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military
service
> > out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> > whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
> >
>
> It sounds like the parents want the Pentagon to make the decision first,
> effectively removing the remaining daughters' right to choose for
> themselves. I understand the emotions but it strikes me as somewhat
> controlling.
>
That was my impression as well, he wants the Pentagon to force the girls to
return home
they may be too Hooah to do so. Their choice.
>

> > I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost their
> > daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the
rules
> > to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a
slain
> > soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not
fine.
>
>
> Haven't you seen Saving Private Ryan?? This is actually a rule in the
> military. They aren't bending anything.

dude, it's obvious i didn't know what the rule was and was asking for
clarification.


--
"Look at any 'democratic' country, like America.
In these countries the real business of 'state' is carried
on by departments, staffs, and bureaus...Parliaments
are only places where chattering goes on with the purpose
of fooling the 'common people'."

V.I. Lenin

Hecubus wrote:
> Awake wrote:
>
> > A grieving father, mourning the death in Baghdad of his soldier
> > daughter, yesterday begged the Pentagon to send her two sisters home
> > from the war, saying the family could not bear another loss.
>
> This story is already way behind the times. The National Guard has already
> sataed that the two remaining daughters have the choice of staying
> stateside or returning to the middle east. The choice is entirely theirs.

It says much about the personal honor of these women that they did
not immediately make that request. Even though no one would ever
put any blame on them for electing to stay in the US, one or both
still might chose duty over safety. Impressive.

But I read this on rec.food.cooking. What's the recipe for a good
ethnic recipe popular in Baghdad?

> From: "StephenJ" >
> Organization: Cox Communications
> Newsgroups:
> alt.gossip.celebrities,alt.politics.bush,rec.sport .golf,rec.sport.tennis,rec.f
> ood.cooking
> Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:15:41 -0500
> Subject: Wisconsin Father pleads with Pentagon for Daughters lives
>
>
> "The Outlaw Salome Wales" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>>
>>> Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
>>>
>>> America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
>>> ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
>>
>>
>> Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
>> permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military service
>> out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
>> whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
>
> I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost their
> daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the rules
> to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a slain
> soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not fine.


Haven't you seen Saving Private Ryan?? This is actually a rule in the
military. They aren't bending anything. The rule says that siblings don't
have to serve in war together, b/c no parent should have to lose all their
children for the sake of the military.

If you idiots are going to continue responding to this f***ing troll,
please have the g*****ed courtesty to snip the other newsgroups out of
your replies!

The Outlaw Salome Wales > wrote in message >...
> >
> > Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> >
> > America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> > ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
>
>
> Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military service
> out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.

Giving them a choice is not really a "choice." The reason they are not
hopping on the next plane to NY is because their tour is technically
not over and it's obviously tough for them to leave their compatriotes
behind. These people are selected and trained to have a high sense of
duty and loyalty so giving them this choice only makes their situation
more difficult, even if they are ordered to return home.

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 08:49:49 -0700, DJD
> wrote:

>
> If you idiots are going to continue responding to this f***ing troll,
> please have the g*****ed courtesty to snip the other newsgroups out of
> your replies!

It was just an elaborate ploy to get you to post! We
increase our readership any way we can these days because
there are enough people who enjoy food and gossip actively
participating in rfc.

I can tell you're not the shy type, thanks for dropping by.

BTW: Your free trial will end in 5 days... after that you'll
have to pony up.

sf
rfc membership chair


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

In article >,
says...
>
>
> > From: "StephenJ" >
> > Organization: Cox Communications
> > Newsgroups:
> > alt.gossip.celebrities,alt.politics.bush,rec.sport .golf,rec.sport.tennis,rec.f
> > ood.cooking
> > Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:15:41 -0500
> > Subject: Wisconsin Father pleads with Pentagon for Daughters lives
> >
> >
> > "The Outlaw Salome Wales" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> >>>
> >>> America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> >>> ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
> >>
> >>
> >> Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> >> permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military service
> >> out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> >> whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
> >
> > I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost their
> > daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the rules
> > to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a slain
> > soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not fine.
>
>
> Haven't you seen Saving Private Ryan?? This is actually a rule in the
> military. They aren't bending anything. The rule says that siblings don't
> have to serve in war together, b/c no parent should have to lose all their
> children for the sake of the military.

Um, that was a movie, dude.

Oh wait. Just checked the headers! It's just KKKathy pressing her
reality again.

Nevermind.

bel



>
>

"StephenJ" > wrote in message
news:02vfc.7612$55.7115@lakeread02...
>
> "The Outlaw Salome Wales" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > >
> > > Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> > >
> > > America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> > > ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
> >
> >
> > Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> > permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military
service
> > out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> > whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
>
> I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost their
> daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the rules
> to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a slain
> soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not fine.

what's good for the goose..........there is no draft in USA, if you're a
female in the military, hopefully you enlisted to do more than get in shape,
get paid, get free college and get free meals..you should be asked to serve
in same capacity as men, since you chose it..

bob

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 23:05:50 -0000, Dog3
<dognospam@adjfkdla;not> wrote:

> sf > poured a drink and posted
> :
>
> > On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 08:49:49 -0700, DJD
> > > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> If you idiots are going to continue responding to this f***ing troll,
> >> please have the g*****ed courtesty to snip the other newsgroups out of
> >> your replies!
> >
> > It was just an elaborate ploy to get you to post! We
> > increase our readership any way we can these days because
> > there aren't enough people who enjoy food and gossip actively
> > participating in rfc.
> >
> > I can tell you're not the shy type, so thanks for dropping by.
> >
> > BTW: Your free trial will end in 5 days... after that you'll
> > have to pony up.
> >
> > sf
> > rfc membership chair
> >
> >
> > Practice safe eating - always use condiments
> >
>
> Congratulations sf, you have just slapped a net nanny.
>

LOL! I get it now.




Practice safe eating - always use condiments

John Halliburton wrote:
>
> The Sullivan brothers were in the Navy during WWII, and went
> down on the USS Juneau in 1942.

All seven (?) brothers. To this day they are held up as Naval
heroes together with John Paul Jones. Their tale was told to me
in Navy boot camp in 1978 and it was told to my younger daughter
when she went through in 2001. There was even a wartime
propaganda movie about them "The Fighting Sullivans" but the
final scene of them all taking their duffle bags into heaven was
too depressing and the movie is rarely shown. I recorded it
from a movies-all-night marathon years ago once but didn't keep
the tape.

USS The Sullivans was built in their honor and was eventually
retired from service. It is now a museum ship in Buffalo, NY.

> No official military "act" or congressional order has been
> passed, it is an "accomodation" the military provides that siblings have the
> option of not serving together in a war zone together.

It is not a law but it has been US military policy ever since.
The policy was taught to my daughter and me in Navy boot camp
separated by two decades. I'm sure the "Saving Private Ryan"
scenario is the one taught in Army boot camp; gotta use your
own fallen heroes.

(ccrevival) wrote in message . com>...
> The Outlaw Salome Wales > wrote in message >...
> > >
> > > Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> > >
> > > America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> > > ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
> >
> >
> > Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> > permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military service
> > out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> > whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
>
> Giving them a choice is not really a "choice." The reason they are not
> hopping on the next plane to NY is because their tour is technically
> not over and it's obviously tough for them to leave their compatriotes
> behind. These people are selected and trained to have a high sense of
> duty and loyalty so giving them this choice only makes their situation
> more difficult, even if they are ordered to return home.

I agree that the choice is a tough one, but who else should make it
besides the soldiers? It is their lives, after all.

The parent's position is both (a) entirely understandable (they are
crushed by grief and fear greatly another loss), but would also be (b)
a terrible precendent to set. It would mean that from now on, whenever
any soldier is killed, their siblings in the armed forces would
automatically be ordered home, regardless of circumstances or their
desires. That makes no sense from a military POV.

Ultimately, those who volunteer for military service and their
families must clearly understand that it is a deadly-serious
occupation, not just a chance for free college tuition, training or
the like (despite military recruiting advertising to the contrary). In
these situations, i suspect that the latter attitude underlies in part
the feelings expressed by the families involved..

"bob" > wrote in message .com>...
> "StephenJ" > wrote in message
> news:02vfc.7612$55.7115@lakeread02...
> >
> > "The Outlaw Salome Wales" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> > > >
> > > > America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> > > > ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
> > >
> > >
> > > Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has* given
> > > permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military
> service
> > > out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to decide
> > > whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
> >
> > I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost their
> > daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the rules
> > to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a slain
> > soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not fine.
>
> what's good for the goose..........there is no draft in USA, if you're a
> female in the military, hopefully you enlisted to do more than get in shape,
> get paid, get free college and get free meals..you should be asked to serve
> in same capacity as men, since you chose it..
>
> bob

Bob,

Males get the same option. If the woman who died had two brothers
instead of two sisters, they would face the same choice. But I'm
continually heartened by the way you can find sexism in almost every
article. It's encouraging that those blinders function 24/7!!

Steve Jaros wrote:
>
>
> The parent's position is both (a) entirely understandable (they are
> crushed by grief and fear greatly another loss), but would also be (b)
> a terrible precendent to set. It would mean that from now on, whenever
> any soldier is killed, their siblings in the armed forces would
> automatically be ordered home, regardless of circumstances or their
> desires. That makes no sense from a military POV.
>


But that was done all the time during the Vietnam War and
if I remember correctly, it happened automatically. It
was called having "SSS status" (sole surviving son)
and the survivor was sent home to stateside duty.

gloria p

"scooter34" > wrote in message
om...
> "bob" > wrote in message
.com>...
> > "StephenJ" > wrote in message
> > news:02vfc.7612$55.7115@lakeread02...
> > >
> > > "The Outlaw Salome Wales" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Bereaved father in plea to Pentagon
> > > > >
> > > > > America's grief laid bare as family who lost daughter in Baghdad
> > > > > ambush begs US army to send her two sisters home from war zone
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Whoa. According to every news report I have heard, the Pent *has*
given
> > > > permission for the girls to stay home and continue their military
> > service
> > > > out of the war zone. It's the girls themselves who are trying to
decide
> > > > whether they want to return to the war or stay in the States.
> > >
> > > I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost
their
> > > daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the
rules
> > > to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a
slain
> > > soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not
fine.
> >
> > what's good for the goose..........there is no draft in USA, if you're a
> > female in the military, hopefully you enlisted to do more than get in
shape,
> > get paid, get free college and get free meals..you should be asked to
serve
> > in same capacity as men, since you chose it..
> >
> > bob
>
> Bob,
>
> Males get the same option. If the woman who died had two brothers
> instead of two sisters, they would face the same choice. But I'm
> continually heartened by the way you can find sexism in almost every
> article. It's encouraging that those blinders function 24/7!!

i believe the law is for when all but one brother was killed in action, to a
llow the last brother out of military service to keep the last brother alive
to be able to carry on the family name?

what does this have to do with ONE female soldier being killed when her TWO
sisters are alive? if ANOTHER sister was killed (i sure hope not) then i'd
certainly apply the law...how the hell is that sexist? are you nuts?

bob

bob wrote:

> > I feel deeply for the father and the rest of the family that lost their
> > daughter/sister, but i surely hope that the pentagon hasn't bent the rules
> > to accomodate them. If the standard policy is to allow siblings of a slain
> > soldier to opt out of combat zones, fine. But if not, then it's not fine.
>
> what's good for the goose..........there is no draft in USA, if you're a
> female in the military, hopefully you enlisted to do more than get in shape,
> get paid, get free college and get free meals..you should be asked to serve
> in same capacity as men, since you chose it..

So true. Equal pay for equal work means equal work for equal pay. I understand
that this woman was in the National Guard. I serve time with our armed forces
reserves. I got the uniform and the training, and I got paid for it. I
understood that if I was called up to go to war, I was expected to go. have a
nephew who was called up for peace keeping duties in Bosnia. He went over and
did his duty. But then I know a number of other guys who are in our reserves
whose units were called up and they found excuses not to go. Sorry, but there
are realities and obligations to face. As a tax payer, I resent paying for
training, and paying the people to take it, and then not be able to count on
them when they are needed. If I had my way, every reservist who refuses duty
would immediately be drummed out of the service.

> Males get the same option. If the woman who died had two brothers
> instead of two sisters, they would face the same choice. But I'm
> continually heartened by the way you can find sexism in almost every
> article. It's encouraging that those blinders function 24/7!!

Here's the official explanation of the law, from the Selective Service
System:

"Contrary to popular belief, "only sons," "the last son to carry the family
name," and "sole surviving sons" must register and they can be drafted.
However, they may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a
military death in the immediate family.
Provisions regarding the survivors of veterans were written into Selective
Service law after World War II. Details have varied over the years, but the
basic premise remains the same; where a family member has been lost as a
result of military service, the remaining family members should be protected
insofar as possible.

It is important to keep in mind that the provisions are directly related to
service-connected deaths. The mere fact that a man is the only child or only
son does not qualify him for consideration - he must be the survivor of one
who died as a result of military service.
The present law provides a peacetime exemption for anyone whose parent or
sibling was killed in action, died in line of duty, or died later as a
result of disease or injury incurred in line of duty while serving in the
armed forces of the United States. Also included are those whose parent or
sibling is in a captured or missing status as a result of service in the
armed forces during any period of time. This is known as the "surviving son
or brother" provision. A man does not have to be the only surviving son in
order to qualify; if there are four sons in a family and one dies in the
line of duty, the remaining three would qualify for surviving son or brother
status under the present law.

The surviving son or brother provision is applicable only in peacetime. It
does not apply in time of war or national emergency declared by the
Congress.

The original law, passed in 1948, exempted the sole surviving son of a
family where one or more sons or daughters died as a result of military
service. No restriction existed at that time to limit the exemption to
peacetime. The provision was intended to protect families which had lost a
member in World War II.

In 1964, recognizing that sons of World War II veterans were reaching draft
age, Congress changed the law to include the sole surviving son of a family
where the father, or one or more sons or daughters, died as a result of
military service. At this time the peacetime-only restriction was also added
to the law.

A further change was made in 1971, expanding the exemption to any son, not
necessarily the sole surviving son, of a family where the father, brother or
sister died as a result of military service. This provision was recently
expanded to include mothers. "

--
"Look at any 'democratic' country, like America.
In these countries the real business of 'state' is carried
on by departments, staffs, and bureaus...Parliaments
are only places where chattering goes on with the purpose
of fooling the 'common people'."

V.I. Lenin