This is coolbert: Here is a topic that has become very germane with all this talk about restoring the draft recently. The topic is the "sole surviving son". And is also germane with regard to my previous blog entry about families in the U.S. being so small, sometimes with just one child. What people in the U.S. generally believe is that the law is that if a family has just one son, that son cannot be drafted and be compelled to go to war or even into the military at all.

And this is just not true!

"Contrary to popular belief, "only sons," "the last son to carry the family name," and "sole surviving sons" must register and they can be drafted. However, they may be entitled to a peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family."

It is true if the son is the "sole surviving son" AS A RESULT OF MILITARY ACTION! This is the key part. The offspring can only be considered to be the sole surviving son if this is due to military action. The father or a sibling was killed in military action.

"The salient points being that you are only exempt from service if one of your parents or siblings died as a result of military service, and, perhaps most importantly, this exemption does not apply during times of war."

And this provision applies only in PEACETIME. During a time of war, Congress can change and rescind this measure at their discretion.

"But again, in times of war, this exemption is null and void."

I can very well see this issue becoming a hot button topic if and when the draft is restored [I doubt at this point it will be].

coolbert.