According to his own book, he never even considered going into the military because he wanted to be a doctor. So why even mention that West Point story at all?As for the first statement ... I will "assume" you have read "his book" and your paraphrase is accurate as to what "he wrote" in "his book."
And all to defend a minor fib. Originally Posted by ExNYer
#1 for whatever reason he drifted to a "military" environment, since ROTC was more often than not an "elective" activity in those years that pretty much consumed the "extracurricular" activity time and was restrictive from a discipline point of view, so one had to "want" to engage in the structured activity.
#2 for a financially challenged you man at the time the military was a good path to obtaining health care training, and specifically for physicians and dentists. For about 30+ years now I have had close friends who were trained while in the military for the private practices (one remained in a civilian government position as a physician) in dentistry, surgery, and psychiatry. In addition I have had surgery (and sewn up) by at least four different surgeons who were trained in the military .... Occasionally I have been made aware through those associations of career military surgeons who are one of 2-3 experts in a particular field worldwide. Brain surgery would be one of those fields particularly appropriate in a military hospital and/or available for travel overseas when needed (which ALL of those I have known did and some still do). (Some of the best emergency room surgeons in this country are "former" corpsmen, because of their extensive experience "under pressure." My face and head were sewn up by a corpsman and a plastic surgeon later said he could not improve on the "needlework"!)
I'm posting this, because something is somewhat "off" ... with that explanation (from his book). Either he received bad or misguided advice or someone is fabricating parts of yet another part of Carson's history.