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Wedding Military Means Divorcing Manhattan

High society is into service, Army wife says, but not armed forces

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2009 2:12 PM CDT
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(Newser) – When her Manhattan colleagues found out Chloe Kamarck was marrying an Army officer, she got a lot of questions: “But why? So he supports the war? Is he a Republican?” This generation is into service—the recession has driven many to the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and the like—but as during Vietnam, the military carries a stigma, especially amongst the upper classes, Kamarck writes for Vogue.

Once powerful families like the Kennedys and the Bushes took pride in their military service; now, they avoid it like the plague. Schools like Harvard and Columbia still ban on-campus ROTC programs. “The tacit lesson for the elite is that military service is not for their kind.” There are cultural differences—Kamarck thought she’d be dating at the MoMA, not Chili’s—but they're superficial. “It took me a while to warm up to his buzz cut, but his patriotism was contagious.”

Joe Biden talks with his son, Army Capt. Beau Biden, at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, July 4, 2009. Biden is an all-too-rare example of a powerful man serving in the military.
Joe Biden talks with his son, Army Capt. Beau Biden, at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, July 4, 2009. Biden is an all-too-rare example of a powerful man serving in the military.   (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed, Pool)
First Lt. Brian Ink kisses his wife, Megan, after giving her a box of Valentine's Day chocolates on Sunday Feb. 15, 2009 at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Ky.
First Lt. Brian Ink kisses his wife, Megan, after giving her a box of Valentine's Day chocolates on Sunday Feb. 15, 2009 at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Ky.   (AP Photo/ The Courier-Journal, David R. Lutman)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
Kookey90
Jul 23, 2009 10:17 AM CDT
Nothing new here, this has been going on since the 70's. I grew up in NYC, went to Nam in'71 returned to the city in '73, left in '75 and never returned. I spent most of my time since in the south and overseas where people have a better appreciation for the military.
armywife
Jul 23, 2009 7:33 AM CDT
Dude. I'm a Soldier. I'm a Democrat. In fact, I'm a liberal Democrat. I'm a vet of Iraq. Twice. Deal with it.
riffran
Jul 23, 2009 7:05 AM CDT
I would LOVE to get some of those kum by ya crows, and put them through boot camp, and let them deploy, (even if it was non combative or support only), and let hem walk a mile in a real Americans boots.....Those of our Brave men and women of the armed forces.....That reminds me, I know from experience that the damn digital ACU's are hot as hell in the summer, along with a full pack and camelback.....I have an undying respect for those over seas in that desert hell.....HOOOOOAH
US

 
military • Manhattan • wife • class divide • class

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