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George Wilson Discusses The Pluses and Minuses of the All Volunteer Army.

Washington Post chief defense correspondent George Wilson. His new book, Mud Soldiers: Life Inside the New American Army, is an analysis of the efficiency and morale of the all-volunteer Army Infantry, the combat branch that would bear the brunt of any war, and which almost certainly sustain the highest loses. Wilson spent a year with 200 recruits, following them from basic training to maneuvers in the Mohave Desert, to their first assignments. Wilson's other books include Army in Anguish and Supercarrier.

22:06
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Other segments from the episode on July 21, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 21, 1989: Interview with George Wilson; Interview with John Hammond; Interview with David Cale; Commentary on the music of of Alva Rogers.
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06:58

John Hammond Shares His Harmonica Playing Inspirations in Concert.

Grammy Award-winning blues singer John Hammond performs two songs in Fresh Air's weekly performance segment. Hammond has performed for nearly twenty years, and in that time his style has evolved from straight-forward, rural blues to a harder-edged, urban style of blues. He is the son of music impresario John Hammond Sr. who helped launched and nurture the careers of Bob Dylan, Benny Goodman and Billie Holiday.

Interview
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11:25

Interview and Performance with David Cale.

Comic monologuist David Cale. He is one of the rising stars of the loosely-knit New York performance scene that brought out stars like Spalding Grey, Eric Bogosian and Laurie Anderson. In "Smooch Music," one of his best-received monologues, Cale, accompanied by a saxophonist, interweaves 23 vignettes on romance in New York City, with characters that range from the president of a swinger's club to pubescent boy who makes hickeys on his neck with a vacuum cleaner hose.

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03:51

Introducing Alva Rogers.

Critic-at-Large Laurie Stone reviews the work of the young singer Alva Rogers. Rogers has performed in clubs throughout the New York City area over the last several weeks.

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

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