![]() In April 1941, President Roosevelt authorized work of national importance for COs, and the first CPS camps opened in May, often using former Civilian Conservation Corps campsites. The CPS was the work of the three Historic Peace Churches, the Brethren, Quakers, and Mennonites, who had worked together and with the federal government to provide for more desirable alternatives for COs. Provided under the 1940 Selective Service and Training Act, the Civilian Public Service (CPS) program was set up to provide “work of national importance” for conscientious objectors. The 12,000 who registered for Selective Service but chose not to serve in the military found other ways to serve their country through the Civilian Public Service program. The most famous of them is army medic and Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss. Most of these men became medics, but some became chaplains or filled other support roles. Approximately 25,000 either enlisted or allowed themselves to be drafted but served in non-combat roles within their respective branches. Those men, over 4,400 of which were Jehovah’s Witnesses, went to jail. Of the 43,000 who registered as COs, 6,000 refused to cooperate with Selective Service. Personal feelings were not sufficient to receive CO status. To become a conscientious objector, or CO, usually a man had to be a member of a Peace Church such as the Quakers, Mennonites, or the Church of the Brethren. An estimated 43,000 did so over the course of the war, but not all applications were accepted. When young men came of age to register for Selective Service (the draft), any man desiring to register as a conscientious objector had to do so at his local draft board. For those who chose to stand as conscientious objectors, their options were few: join the armed forces and serve in a non-combat role (usually as a medic), volunteer for the Civilian Public Service program, or go to jail. Since the Revolutionary War, there have been those who choose to refuse service based on their religious beliefs, most notably those of the Quaker, Brethren, and Mennonite faiths. These men were known as conscientious objectors. For another large segment of the population, their choice not to serve was religious. Their options were to serve, find war work, or end up in jail if they refused induction. There were pacifists and those whose political beliefs kept them from service. Some simply feared combat or felt they could better help their families by staying home and staying whole. Every man had his own reasons for preferring not to serve. In contrast, over 10 million (more than 60 percent) were drafted. Of the roughly 16 million in service throughout World War II, voluntary enlistments accounted for less than 40 percent of the total manpower. ![]() With all of the stories of sacrifice and duty, and those who went against the wishes of their family or odds stacked against them to don a uniform, it’s not inconceivable that a persistent misconception is that every young man rushed out at the first opportunity to answer Uncle Sam’s call.Īvoiding military service is usually considered draft dodging, which is more commonly associated with the Vietnam War than World War II. One common misconception about the men who served in America’s armed forces in World War II involves enlistment and the draft. Retrospect tends to paint a rosier picture in the collective memory than the oftentimes uncomfortable truth. As with any major historical event, the memory of World War II is marred by misconceptions.
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