Why You? (1952)

[Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] the first time I went there I felt well sort of queer what was I doing there I was planning on College if my my trades were good enough for deferment so what was I doing here then looking around I began to figure it out I was there because we live in a pretty shaky world full of struggle and strife because our country is building a great military force to be ready for any world flare up and in the hope that we might prevent it because we we have to hurry to build that Force Minute Men of today that's what we're after that's where I come in and you too we're in line for the job of Minute Men and this place your local Board office is the Clearing House for finding those Minute Men yes I had the big picture in mind I knew why we were training men for service but why me why did my life have to be upset you've asked yourself that why you well I thought of who could be called for service older men men like our fathers for example no even if they're in good health they're just too old for rigorous service well then someone younger how about our big brothers but they've already had their return in service besides if they were called back what would become of their families and that isn't all just how young is a guy like this suppose there's a world flare up 5 years from now or maybe 10 years will guys like this be young enough then no they shouldn't be called back in not unless things are really desperate desate that's the way I figured it you and I and all the other guys our age we're the candidates but that isn't the whole story not by a long shot I overheard something just then that set me to thinking deeper and there must be some mistake I thought I'd be deferred that's what he said deferred what happens who gets deferments and why well I remembered a little incident that got under my skin hey how how are you well Fred my goly see I thought you were dressing yeah they thought they had me too but well here I am oh how come oh you just have to know how to pull strings my boy that's enough to make anybody wonder pull strings could somebody do that and leave me holding the bag bet you've wondered that too bet you've wondered what goes on back there where the local board meets well right now there isn't anybody back there because the members of the board have to earn a living they'll be here tonight they'll be giving their time yes giving it they're volunteer citizens I actually though I I don't think the certificate meets the actual regulations we' better let the fellows down at the induction Center decide on this one great right all right uh the next is a uh Harold Boyce he asks that we reconsider his classification on grounds of dependency does he want a personal appearance with the draft Court yes matter of fact he's here tonight shall we see him now yeah no right that's what they talk about about you and me and how to fill their quota of men and still be fair to everybody and they are fair too there's no politics back here sure they Grant some deferments and exemptions but only for good reasons and only within the limits of The Selective Service Act changed on the ground remember Fred he's still home I found out the real reason though bad heart funny thing how some fellows will make you mad with a tall story when the truth would just make you feel sorry for them I know some other guys who've been deferred Bruce has to support his mother and Kid Sister he works like a dog don't try to tell him he got off easy Walter staying on his job his Factory has some important defense orders but don't worry the local board hasn't forgotten him while he's needed here here he'll stay when he's needed in service he'll go no I decided I didn't have to Envy anyone who wasn't accepted for service and I was mighty sure the action in my case would be fair and square very likely they'll have you come in some evening and talk your problem through with them personally is that all right yes thanks that's fair enough all right we're the candidates and the Minute Men are chosen by a fair and democratic system but that isn't all not yet listen I'd like some information about enlisting oh certainly enlisting it's a democratic system and you have a choice as to how you'll go in but who should enlist I tried to imagine what Bill's case was like suppose you've graduated from high school you don't have any plans for college no you want to work and you want to learn a trade on the job you've been job hunting since you graduated oh you can get a job all right but not one with the kind of future you want it's tough it doesn't seem very fair but why should a man start training you when you're such an obvious Prospect for service no it seems you just aren't going to get your trainy before you go into service so you drift along and you begin to think could you get that training in service would it help to enlist well find out you can get information from the recruiting offices and talk it over with other people whose judgment you respect then make your own decision well if that's Bill's case or yours find out how you can serve your country and yourself the best if you finished school maybe enlisting is the answer take my case I was there to register but I had something else on my mind College you see I had plans all made for college and for work I figured it was time to take a careful look into the future suppose I started college what then how long could I be sure to stay who knows it depends on a lot of things how good my grades are for one thing how badly I'm needed in service for another but I figure it this way as long as I'm studying I'm helping myself and I'm getting ready to serve even better when the time comes suppose I don't get to finish college right away I'll do it later lots of fellows have done it that way you know I've got a lot of friends who would deferred to go on to college a lot of them they'll be going in later and they will be able to serve better because of their college training some of them are getting military training while they're in college preparing to qualify as officers on graduation serving where you're most needed that's the idea maybe you can't figure out a timetable for your whole life but you can figure and plan just the same uh Miss can you tell me something about student deferment oh yes it's a material over here on the count feel sick over there see you find out you find out just where you fit in the system of Selective Service and voluntary enlistment then you'll be ready for whatever comes in the future look you're young and alert you can learn fast you're strong and adaptable okay that makes you a good candidate for service there's a fair and democratic system for choosing am Minute Men from among the candidates and you can find out where you fit in that system why me why you because we're the best there is we can do the job and it's our job to do [Music] [Music]