During my first semester of college I enlisted in the Marine Corps. It was December 1967 and I felt guilty that kids my age were fighting and dying in Vietnam. To put my decision to enlist in perspective, 11,153 brave Americans lost their lives in Vietnam during that year alone.

Now with the war in Iraq not going quite as well as the president promised and our armed services not meeting their recruitment goals, I'm making an urgent plea to my fellow patriots. Please enlist! I'm 56 years old, and I still feel the need to be with my fellow Marines over there. I read their names everyday, you know the one's that aren't coming home. I make a point of it. I'm sure you probably feel like me, don't you? I know you're currently doing all you can; you've got the "W" sticker on the rear window of your vehicle, festooned with an assortment of "support the troops" magnets. That's great, I know we all feel a wave of patriotism sweep over us as we pull up behind you at a stoplight.

But you know, maybe you could do just a little more. Why not drive down to your local Armed Forces recruiting office (check your local yellow pages) and chat with them about the war. First off they're going to love the decals and magnets, and secondly you're the guy or gal they want and our country needs. I've seen you driving around, you look 45 or under and in reasonably good shape, nothing boot camp can't fix. Why do we need to start all this ugly talk about the draft again when you're cruising the streets and highways of all 50 states, and don't forget the territories. This talk of a draft will just cause the privileged undue concern worrying that their kids might have to go to Iraq. You know what that means, if we re-instate the draft this war will over in the blink of sand encrusted eye, and you mister patriot are not going to get your chance to go. So buck up my friend, choose a branch of the service and enlist, and don't forget about the National Guard. The Guard's a great choice, helping out in our greatest national disasters and such. Go ask your neighbors down the street who are in the Guard, no wait he's been out of town or something for the last year. Maybe ask his wife, no she's gone too, try the kids, I'm sure they can tell you how they feel about it.

Anyway you've made the noble decision to join the United States Armed Forces. Enlisting in our armed forces during a time of war is the ultimate act of patriotism and sacrifice. I salute your future service. And by the way, leave that "W" decal on your rear window; it's a true badge of courage, kind of like that Scarlet Letter thing.

Semper Fi