The VD statistic quoted in the CWM exhibit is a prurient "I'm holier than thou" judgement by some display designer who has likely never worn a uniform.
I've soldiered now for 30 years in some 24 countries, many of them unpleasant... yes my soldiers (and I) could get into trouble when we weren't under arms, yes we looked for "entertainment" (read: girls and booze) where we could find it... for example, the long term dangers of smoking looked like a pretty low risk when you were being shot at!
There is no doubt that some soldiers catch VD... they also catch dissentry, the flu, mumps, measles, flak from the Brass and lead from the enemy. Is it important to the story being told in the exhibit, NO. Show us the stats on all the other illnesses and injuries before you highlight the VD rate. Tell the problem in context and let it educate... don't use a SWAG (scientific wild ass guess) to cause titters from teenagers and gasps from left leaning liberals about licentious soldiers!
As part of our lecture series today we highly recommend "My Story", the autobiography of Gen Chris Vokes, for its amusing account of his trying to convince the parson's son, Montgomery, to allow for field brothels with proper medical inspections so he (Vokes) could lower the VD rate in the 1st Canadian Division. Monty's reaction was worth buying the book for!
Mike
