To the Editor:
Apart from the many letters and columns in The Dartmouth recently on the merits of the U.S. response, or lack of merits (I happen to be in the camp that favors unending persecution of terrorists through this life and the next), I would like to point out that no one has mentioned the undergraduates who will be taking a direct role in our nation's defense both at home and overseas. No, the draft hasn't been reinstated, but there is a small group of students who are in ROTC. I have two fraternity brothers from Dartmouth who are now commissioned officers in the United States Army, Lts. Doug Kimbrough '94, and Joseph Scott '00. I also have the honor of knowing Lt. Cris Kuechman '97.
They did not get a lot of recognition while they were at school for their achievements in what is basically a second degree. I don't think any ROTC student at Dartmouth does. I would like to just say thank you to them and to all the ROTC students who, in addition to tooling like every other undergrad, were willing to sign up for a job that ultimately asks extremely difficult things of people. More difficult than anything an undergrad or any alum can fathom. To the men and women of Dartmouth who serve in our military, thank you and at least one alum's prayers and thoughts are with you.