Paul's hopes to escape the turmoil of war and violence were not
realized. The post-war world was becoming one of turmoil and
instability. The colonial empires of the European powers collapsed.
Many unstable governments emerged in Africa and Asia. The Soviet
Union absorbed Eastern Europe and tried to expand its influence over
the world. The United States naturally moved to counter these efforts
of world hegemony. The Cold War was waged world-wide between the
communist and the non-communist powers and their allies.
An avid reader of the daily newspaper, Paul was remotely aware of
these new developments and threats to world peace. But suddenly he
became personally involved in these struggles. The fragile peace
following the defeat of the Axis powers was shattered by the outbreak
of the Korean War. The mobilization of the armed forces of America
required the reinstatement of the draft. Paul, as a resident alien
eligible for citizenship had to register.
The fury of the Korean War expanded with the entry of Communist China
into the conflict. Paul's experiences during World War II made him
aware of the importance of foresight. At the age of 21 he reached
full manhood. He was over six feet tall, though somewhat thin for his
size. He enjoyed good health, except that he needed eyeglasses.
However, Paul's intellectual interest made him neglect the physical
exercise he knew was needed for military service. Consequently, he
bought a pair of combat boots, and started to walk home from work
every night. The walk took him 45 minutes instead of the usual 15
minutes by street car, but built him up for the exertions he
expected.
In the early spring of 1951 Paul received his call-up notice. He had
to report early in the morning to the place of his induction. On the
appointed date he found himself in a large room with a hundred young
men. A quick physical examination was followed by the oath of
military service. With this Paul became a participant of a war
institution -- the type of organization that he learned to fear in
the past. The transportation by bus to an army camp, the cutting of
his hair, the shower, the issuance of a uniform, and finally the
narrow bed in a cramped room of the military barracks moved Paul's
mind back to his arrival at Auschwitz. As night fell he was terrified
and scared of the future.
Morning brought sanity to Paul. He was in America, after all. The
young draftees were of his age. The non-commissioned officers were
gruff, but not hostile. Unlike most of his compatriots he was
well-trained for obedience. The type of drill he received in his
pre-military training and at Auschwitz was very similar to the Army's
methods of moving around bodies of men and enforcing discipline. This
was Paul's first realization that militarism was a universal human
social institution, practiced very similarly in countries and
societies as diverse as Nazi Germany and the United States.
By a mysterious process the Army decided that Paul should be trained
as a combat engineer. He was shipped to Fort Belvoir, near the
nation's capital. A period of an arduous military training started
for Paul. First he learned the basic methods of combat infantry.
Marching and advancing in formations, using weapons of all types,
digging fox holes and sleeping in tents were the skills he learned.
Then came the training in combat engineering. Paul became familiar
with methods for crossing rivers, mine laying and removing, map
reading, air strip preparation and other construction type
activities. From his readings he realized that he was trained in the
same skills as the legions of Rome -- possibly the most successful
warriors of history. Only the technologies changed -- the methods
remained the same over the centuries.
After adjusting to the initial hardships of military training Paul
found the Army comforting in many ways. The companionship of a
cross-section of young Americans was enjoyable. He met fellow
soldiers from the cities and from the countryside; university
graduates and high school drop-outs; white and black; Christian and
Jewish. Their striving for a common goal obliterated the artificial
differences of race, class or religion. Here was an actual
implementation of E Pluribus Unum -- One Out of Many.
Paul also liked the good humor that pervaded his platoon even under
the strain of their rigorous training. He was the subject of one of
the many practical jokes. Because of his thirst for knowledge Paul
used to read the Washington Post newspaper during the
lunch breaks. Using the newly learned infiltration skills one of his
buddies sneaked up to him and applied a light to the corner of his
paper. "Hot news!" they yelled gleefully as the front page went up in
flames before Paul's startled eyes.
On weekends Paul started to visit nearby Washington. He found more
inspiration in the monuments and sights of the nation's capital. The
White House, the Capitol, the memorials to Washington, Lincoln and
Jefferson, the museums and the other sights gave him further insight
into the history and workings of America. Here was a nation with a
great history, strong institutions and moral values far superior to
the decadent countries of Europe with their failed culture and
civilization.
Paul's experiences during the Holocaust damaged his self-esteem and
sapped his confidence. Now he felt pride and dignity as he marched
with his platoon during the graduation ceremony after his training.
He came to appreciate the attraction of militarism to many of the
participants of the system.
Although much combat was still going in Korea, the Army decided to
send Paul to occupation duty in Germany. Here was a good example of
human irrationality. In 1944 Germany decided that Paul and his people
had to be destroyed. Now a mere seven years later he and other
Holocaust survivors were on duty to guard the same Germany against
Soviet invasion. First he was a slave laborer, then he became a
respected member of the occupation forces that ensured Germany's
freedom and prosperity. A scant hundred miles separated the place of
his duty assignment with the 2nd Armored Division from the slave
labor camps where he nearly met his end. He was glad to serve in this
"Hell on Wheels" division, which during the war helped to smash the
Nazi armies, and indirectly liberated him from the death camps.
His duty assignment turned out to be unexpectedly easy. The peacetime
Army had many trained riflemen, accomplished drivers of vehicles, and
other possessors of military skills. What it lacked was -- expert
typists! When the personnel assignment officer discovered Paul's
ability, he was immediately assigned to the division headquarters as
company clerk. He quickly developed his administrative skills. He
became responsible for preparing the three morning reports that had
to be submitted to Army headquarters every day. The morning report
showed the strength and duty status of the organization, and was much
in demand for informing higher headquarters about the condition of
the military units.
Here was another irony. Both the United States and the Soviet Union
maintained large armies in Central Europe, but did not dare to use
them. Billions of dollars and rubles were spent to "defend" allies,
while the economies of the two superpowers gradually deteriorated.
The use of military force could not be considered because of the
nuclear war danger. But information about the military forces was
important -- so that funds could be justified for the military, to
continue the same deadlock and futile waste of resources.
Paul continued his emotional recovery. He was promoted to corporal,
and gained confidence in his abilities. He also had a new opportunity
for discovery about America. Since the division was normally
stationed in Texas, it had a large contingent of Southerners. Waking
up in the morning to the sound of "Dixie," and listening to country
music broadened his mental horizons. What a diverse country was
America! Yet it was possible to fashion unity out of diversity
through the right combination of institutions and moral values.
Paul learned something else. In his free time he started to play
poker with his friends. He did not have much of a chance against some
of the seasoned card sharks. But they played a variety of poker
called "dealer's choice." If the high cards did not come his way,
then it was possible to choose versions of the game that negated the
value of high cards -- such as "low ball" or "deuces wild." Here was
another valuable lesson. In America if one had a losing streak, it
was possible to change the rules. Americans tended to be winners, not
losers. They did not need scapegoats for their problems or failures.
Americans usually were willing to take corrective action, or try new
alternatives.
His two years of military service was ending. Paul was returned to
America and discharged from active duty. As a veteran he was now
entitled to certain benefits, which included educational assistance.
It was now time for him to continue his formal education.
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