While kids 18-20 would not have been uncommon, Audie Murphy was a teenager and my dad was 20 when drafted, the average age was actually 26 which presupposes quite a few older men too.
Another factor is nobody LOOKS like a kid after a few days on the line. Youth is relative.

By Ken Fossitt (12.74.43.174) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 12:05 am:

I caught the "age thing" too. I'm sure that Saunders' squad would have seen many Repo Depo kids. There ages should not have surprised the squad. In reality, the squad saw the replacements as "rookies" and their ages reinforced the squad's thoughts. Once in combat, the rookie disappears and the youth grows old.

 

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