Kevin, near the bottom of your OP your wrote " Would someone please remind me how many of today's Hollywood and sports elite put their careers on hold to enlist in Iraq or Afghanistan?
I believe there is presumption there that THEY SHOULD have put their careers on hold to participate in these more recent wars if they physically could do so. I think you are also presuming the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (Vietnam?) are equivalent to WW II as necessary to preserving the freedom of the US and its European allies. (Please correct me if my presumptions are wrong.)
Many young Americans, famous or not, but who now have the choice to serve or not, decided that putting their lives on the line for these wars was a bad idea. That is just a fact. I suspect that any debate here about how right/wrong American presence in these various wars the US was/is in will get this thread killed. No politics on this forum.
I respect the choice that many have made to join the US armed services. They thought the government was right, wanted to serve, and maybe needed the after-service benefits. I deeply regret so many losses of lives, limbs and minds.
I appreciate your candor & attempt to not step on toes here. However-FWIW, & I'm also trying to avoid political statements, controversy here: I can assure you my kids did not join the military in some simple minded "the government is always right" sort of choice. They are complex thinkers that have their own private opinions about wars,politics & many other subjects. "Thought the government is right" is wrong to place on the forehead of those that serve! It's more complicated than that. Try again or stay away from the point as it only gets (more) political from there.
I'm reminded in this thread of the career seminar I set up for my HS students in early 2000's. I was able to included various professionals to include MD's, nurses, engr's,social workers,artists, you name it. Also invited were the Army & Air Force ROTC people from some local university programs. My thinking was (based on personal experience with enlisted & commissioned service) that kids needed to view the non enlisted side of the military which was on display often via military recruiters that come into HS everyday. One of the ladies I worked with from board office got highly ticked off that ANYONE!!! from the military was there! No, some people from Hollywood or even eastern KY do not like the military nor do they respect those who serve even now. It is a volatile subject, to say the least. This will not change anytime soon as we continue our military presence abroad.