The young men in the story – Hugh, Gerhard and Kurt – are pressured to enlist. What did you think of their decisions? Do you think their families’ situations would have changed had they made different choices?
All three did/would encounter prejudices in the military. I don’t think their family situations would have changed other than the families feeling more anger and pain.
Those prejudices went very deep within the military. In fact, there are still strong prejudices within the military. I don’t think the family situations would have changed. There was so much fear against an attack against the US beyond Pearl Harbor and that spies were everywhere.
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I agree that had Kurt & Gerhard enlisted that it wouldn’t have helped their families. In my reading about what Japanese-Americans went through during the same time period, I learned of many young men who enlisted to show their patriotism and love for America. Didn’t help.
Like the others here, I too do not think any of the men enlisting would have made any difference. As far as Gerhard and Kurt, there seemed to be no real intention on the government’s or FBI’s part to actually do the work needed to truly prove any wrongdoings nor did they behave in any trustworthy or upright manner. And, as others have said, the prejudices are deep and long in the military and continue today. The short documentary, Constantine’s Sword was one more scary eye opener on today’s military.
As others if Hugh, Gerhard and Kurt had enlisted their service would have been filled with coping with and fighting prejudice during their service to their country. Also, it would not ave helped the status of their families plus their families would have worried about the men and their status while serving.