The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-09-21
N. B. workmo.

tiOnal guardSnlen to become
push-button pawns in an inter-
national chess game?
Or are they to continue in their
traditional role Of a second line
Of defense, ready to move
promptly in support and expan-
sion of the regular forces?
In all justice, our citizen
soldiers are entitled to a clearer
definition of their role in our
nations defense.
The answers to these two ques-
tons are of critical importance
in the personal lives of hundreds
of t h.ou an d S of patriotic
Americans - and of equal inn
portance to our nations secur-
ity.
Americas citizen-soldiers have
been the salvation Of our country
in virtually every war. From
our Revolutionary War minute
men down to the highly trained
reservists of today, the mill
tia" concept has undergirded
the defense of our nation.
This militia concept has help
ed us to avoid large standing
armies. Instead, we have relied
upon ready reserves, including
the National Guard.
Paradoxically, however, our
reserve forces frequently have
had to do verbal battle with the
regular army establishment, in
order to maintain that state of
readiness and equipment needed
to constitute an effective fight
ing force.
But another contradiction ex-
lists, even more startling. At this
very moment the Pentagon has
plans which would reduce the
manpower of both the National
Guard and the Army Reserve.
Yet, at the same time the Presi-
dent is requesting that Congress
authorize him to call up as
many as 10000 reservists-
because of the critical nature Of
the international situation"
This request by the President
coming on the heels of last
years Gallup of almost as
many reservists, warrants a
full-fledged revision of reserve
policy.
In the years Immediately be-
fore and after World War II,
members Of the various civil
ian components of our military
forces, including the national
guard, considered themselves
reserves in the true sense OF
the word. They attended regular
drills with or without pay, &C
cording to prevailing conditions
of budget and national policy
and prepared themselves fol
possible mobilization.
More recently ~ largely be
cause CT the Korean conflict :
the reserve forces have beer
beefed up by youngsters who re-
celve varying periods of active
duty training, and then serve
out the remainder of the "ser.
vice obligation" in the reserves
The vast majority of these res
ervlsts. both young and old, arc
fully aware of their military OBJ.
legation, whether it is self-im.
posed or compulsory. They at
tend their weekly drills and thei1
two weeks annual summer
training. They maintain and i'm.
prove their military proficiency
as best they can. in the light
Of available equipment and in.
struction. And they properly re.
gard themselves as our nation :
military strength in reserve. ;
But these officers and mer
are at the same time -citi
zenS of their respective com
munities. They are fathers anc
husbands and sons upon whom
families rely for support. They
are civic leaders to whom the
communities turn for guidance
They are business men whose
actions affect the local econom
les. And they are people-witf
normal aspirations and habits
and plans for the future.
When they are needed to serve
their country, they are ready
But they are fully justified il
asking for a clear statement o.
Just how and when that need
exists.
1t is one thing to forsake
home family, business, and ca
reer for the defense of the ma.
ton in time of obvious emery.
ency. But it is something else
again to be torn away simply
to take part in a show of force
or a diplomatic maneuver.
We have lived amidst inter
national tensions for years, anc
there is in sight no easing Of
these tensions. 1t seems reason
able, therefore, that we should
build up our regular forces tt
whatever level is necessary 70,
national SPcuritv and intarpa