This photo by staff photographer George Rose accompanied an article by staff writer Barry Siegel in the Oct. 23, 1977, Los Angeles Times. Siegel wrote:The scene is a cocktail lounge at LAX. Two 18-year-olds, their hair clipped close to their scalps, their black shoes shined to a gloss, their uniforms freshly pressed, nervously drink beers and swap second-hand stories about Army training. The only way to join the military in 1977 is to volunteer. Since the volunteer army was formed in 1973, some 200,000 people a year have made the same choice.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 21, 2019 12:00 UTC