Article January 9, 1943 Issue

Joining the Forces

ROBERT ELLIS KEY

A Citizen who joins the forces in a time of national emergency learns many lessons in self-denial, self-discipline, and devotion.

His country needs him; therefore he is willing to endure hardships and face dangers for his country's sake. He does not question the right of his government to make laws and statutes to regulate his way of life, means of transport and supply. He is willing to leave the plan of campaign in the hands of experts, and hastens to obey orders without demur, confident that they have been wisely conceived by competent commanders. He knows that the plan of campaign must necessarily be kept a close secret, and that even his own whereabouts should not be generally disclosed. He is content to take an individual part in the struggle without trying to fathom the strategy of the whole campaign.

These points indicate an attitude of mind which expresses service, obedience, self-sacrifice, confidence, and love. This service is given ungrudgingly, and by a patriot it is given willingly. A nation under arms imbued with such a spirit of co-operative endeavor, working under wise leadership, cannot fail to gain a victory over forces impelled by motives of coercion, hatred, conquest, greed, and fear. A whole nation may be strengthened and established by such devotion to duty, provided each individual plays his allotted part. But there is another service and another warfare which is even more important than this. It is the spiritual.

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