I found these brothers playing “G.I. Joe” in Uptown in 1974. The little brother seemed to be marching the big brother around. The big brother pretended that his stick was a rifle. During this era, movies and television still glorified war – even as Vietnam was coming unglued.
I once asked the Army recruiter in Uptown how he “sold” the military during wartime. Specifically, I asked him if he sold it as a way out of poverty. He replied, “No.” And pretty vehemently. He maintained that the military gave young people education, responsibility, a chance to travel, self-discipline and a job at a time when there were few jobs to be had…not to mention a $2500 signing bonus.
