Bucky Barnes: Enlisted Or Drafted?
There's been a steady debate on whether Bucky Barnes from the MCU was drafted or enlisted in the military since the movie Captain America: The First Avenger first aired in theatres and hit DVD/Blu-Ray.
I just want to explain how it seems more likely that James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe enlisted in the military and was not drafted.
My evidence?
1.) James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was the son of George Barnes, a U.S. soldier who fought in World War 1.
2.) James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes's plaque in Captain America: The Winter Soldier plainly states that Bucky "...ENLISTED shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor"
3.) In Mackenzi Lee's young adult novel Winter Soldier Cold Front, which is loosely based on the comics more so than the MCU, gives the reader a better understanding of Bucky and his rebellious desire to join the military, JUST LIKE HIS DAD.
4.) James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was a Sergeant in the 107th Infantry, a position held by ENLISTED U.S. Soldiers who manage to make Sergeant Rank.
5.) Sebastian expressed that Bucky would have enlisted in the army so he could bring honor to his country, his family, and the memory of his deceased father.
Now let's elaborate on the above evidence.
1.) James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes Was The Son Of George Barnes, a U.S. soldier Who Fought In World War 1:
James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was the only son of George Barnes, a prominent U.S. soldier who bravely fought in World War 1, and who died by falling to his death when he had bravely tested out military parachutes before the parachutes were given to the paratroopers.
It was very common, especially in the early to mid-1900s, for sons of military men to join the military as a way to follow in the footsteps of their fathers. This was a societal norm in the 1940s. Meaning Bucky would have enlisted in the military because he believed it was the honorable thing to do for his country, his family, and for the memory of his father, especially after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.
This fact leads us to...
2.) James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes' Plaque in Captain America: The Winter Soldier plainly states that Bucky "...ENLISTED Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor"
We cannot just ignore Bucky's plaque in the museum that plainly states that he indeed "...ENLISTED shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor", which does align with Bucky's core values as the son of a U.S. Soldier.
This alone confirms that Bucky ENLISTED in the military, making it MCU CANON. The last time I checked, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is an MCU film.
There is another source material that gives better insight into Bucky as a person and what he strived for after the death of his parents.
which leads us to...
3.) In Mackenzi Lee's young adult novel Winter Soldier Cold Front, which is loosely based on the comics more so than the MCU, gives the reader a better understanding of Bucky and his rebellious desire to join the military, JUST LIKE HIS DAD.
In Mackenzi Lee's young adult novel Winter Soldier: Cold Front, you get a better and more intimate look into the machinations of Bucky's mind at the age of sixteen years old. Yes, this book is more based on the comics due to the comics having more source material than the movies; however, it still paints a vivid picture of a sixteen-year-old Bucky Barnes as he struggles to find his place in the world after he death of his parents.
In the book, it is clearly stated and expressed that Bucky wants to join the army because he wants to fight the good fight the same way his father did before his death. You get the sense that Bucky wants to do something important and clearly doesn't understand the true implications of going to war. He knows he could die; however, he doesn't know that his fate is far worse than death itself.
Bucky is just a naive sixteen-year-old who is very much like his father in his drive to enlist in the military and go to war. He's also very stubborn like his father, and his will is very strong.
Even though this young adult novel is based on the comics, it does give us insight into who Bucky Barnes is as a person and allows us to understand that Bucky would have ENLISTED in the military.
Which is something you have to keep in mind for the next piece of evidence that also confirms Bucky's ENLISTMENT in the military.
4.) James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was a Sergeant in the 107th Infantry, a position held by ENLISTED U.S. Soldiers who manage to make Sergeant Rank.
James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes stated clearly in Captain America: The First Avenger that he was a "...Sergeant in 107th...".
So, I looked into whether or not Sergeants are enlisted military personnel and learned that Sergeants are ALWAYS enlisted military personnel.
This is the summary from my Google search:
Yes, in the U.S. military, sergeants are always enlisted personnel.Β They are consideredΒ non-commissioned officers (NCOs),Β a rank category within the enlisted ranks.Β They are not officers, who are commissioned and hold a different status within the military structure.Β
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Enlisted vs. Officer: The U.S. military is divided into two main categories: enlisted and officers.Β Enlisted personnel are the majority of the armed forces and perform specific job functions.Β Officers are commissioned and have the responsibility of leading and managing enlisted personnel.Β
Enlisted Ranks: Enlisted ranks, such as sergeant, are achieved through promotions within the enlisted ranks.Β
Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO): Sergeants in the Army and Marine Corps, and their equivalents in other branches (like staff sergeant in the Air Force and petty officer second class in the Navy), are considered NCOs.Β NCOs are experienced enlisted personnel who have been given additional leadership responsibilities.Β
Warrant Officers: It's worth noting that there's another category called warrant officers, who are technically enlisted but hold a commission for specific technical and specialized roles.Β They are not the same as enlisted personnel with the rank of sergeant.Β
Here's some summarized research focusing on Sergeants in the 1940s:
Yes, in the 1940s, U.S. Army sergeants were enlisted personnel.Β They held the rank of non-commissioned officer (NCO), ranking above corporal and below staff sergeant.Β Sergeants were often squad leaders and were responsible for the direct supervision and training of soldiers.Β
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Enlisted vs. Commissioned: In the U.S. military, personnel are either enlisted or commissioned.Β Enlisted personnel, like sergeants, are the backbone of the military, holding various ranks based on experience and performance.Β Commissioned officers, on the other hand, typically hold a college degree and are appointed to their rank.Β
Sergeant's Role: Sergeants were crucial in the 1940s for leading and training soldiers in the field.Β They were responsible for the day-to-day operations of a squad, ensuring soldiers were prepared for combat and performing their duties effectively.Β
Rank Progression: During the 1940s, soldiers could rise through the ranks relatively quickly, especially with the demands of World War II.Β A soldier might be promoted from private to corporal and then to sergeant within a short period.Β
Technician Ranks: The U.S. Army also introducedΒ technician ranksΒ in 1942, such as Technician Third Grade, which were equivalent to NCO ranks in pay but with slightly different authority and responsibilities.Β
With the information above combined with the fact that Bucky HIMSELF said he was a Sergeant in the 107th Infantry, it confirms that he indeed DID ENLIST in the U.S. Military. There's no way he could reach Sergeant rank without being ENLISTED.
Which validates Sebastian Stan's thoughts on HIS character that he has researched via reading comic books about James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes in the MCU, WHICH IS BASED ON THE COMICS by the way.
Which allows us to read between the lines when Sebastian Stan discusses Bucky in interviews.
So let's continue on to....
5.) Sebastian Stan expressed that Bucky would have enlisted in the army so he could bring honor to his country, his family, and the memory of his deceased father.
It is important to note that there is no direct quote from Sebastian Stan that niether confirms nor denies Bucky's enlistment status. However, whenever Sebastian discusses HIS character and who he (Sebastian) believes Bucky is as a person and how he's (Bucky's) dealt with everything in his life, there is an implication that suggests that Sebastian Stan likes to beleve that Bucky enlisted in the army in honor of his country, his family, and the memory of his deceased father, who was a U.S. Soldier.
However, if anybody understands Bucky's personality and characterization the best, it would be the actor who portrays him. Sebastian Stan has portrayed Bucky in the MCU for over ten years. So, Sebastian has a better understanding of Bucky and his motivations than anyone else does. Also, it's fucking rude to say that Sebastian, who's played Bucky for over ten years, is wrong about HIS OWN CHARACTER.
Are some fans so keen on the damn HEADCANON of Bucky being drafted that they don't want to listen to Sebastian Stan expressing his thoughts on Bucky, AND refuse to beileve that some HUMAN ERROR is at play when it comes Bucky being said to have been drafted in the military when it's very clear that Bucky enlisted in the military?
I'm sorry, but there's more evidence that proves and confirms that Bucky enlisted in the military than there is to support the drafted angle.
Bonus Thoughts:
In the scene in Captain America: The First Avenger where we see Bucky strapped to a gurney and hear him mumbling his name and possibly a number, we do not clearly hear the number. We do hear him saying his name repeatedly, along with a quiet, unintelligible mumbling that could have been his Military Identification number.
However, what Bucky could have been mumbling was his rank, his name, his military identification number (which was most likely so incoherent we didn't even hear it spoken out loud), and finally his BIRTHDATE, which would be March 10th, 1917, which would have been formatted as "31017". Meaning we most likely NEVER HEARD Bucky's military identification number, but actually heard him reciting his birthdate after incoherently mumbling his actual Military Identification number. The only clear phrases we hear are "Sergeant James Barnes" AND "31..7.." meaning he was most likely saying his BIRTHDATE.
In the 1940s, a U.S. Army soldier or Personnel captured during wartime and tortured were required to only say their name, rank, military service (identification) number, and DATE OF BIRTH.
Since Bucky was so out of it by the time Steve finds him, we don't clearly hear Bucky stating his military service (identification) number because he incoherently mumbles it after saying his name and rank. So what we are actually hearing is Bucky saying his BIRTHDATE after a few seconds of him incoherently mumbling his military service (identification) number.
Also, because Bucky was so out of it, he may have possibly said his birthdate first, BEFORE he stated his military service (identification) number. In the scene, Steve finds Bucky and snaps him to his senses, slightly causing Bucky not to continue stating his name, rank, military service (identification) number, and birthdate.
Maybe some fans mistakenly interpreted the "31..7.." phrase as a military service (identification) number and hadn't realized that it was most likely his birthdate. However, the truth is we do NOT clearly hear Bucky say the number that satrts with "3" and upon looking at his dog tags it is super hard to tell what the fuck is printed there besides his name "James B. Barnes". So I have no idea how people figured out his ENTIRE military service (identification) number when it's NEVER been clearly stated by Bucky himself, nor clearly seen on his dog tags.
Another option is that Bucky, accidentally, in his slight delirium from being subjected to long hours of isolation, deprivation, and torture, said the wrong military service (identification) number when Steve came and rescued him the first time in Captain America: The First Avenger.
What do you think happens to the brain processes after six months of long periods of isolation, deprivation, and torture? It is not functioning properly, nor is it retaining the right information.
It's also worth noting that when someone is mumbling, especially incoherently, a "1" and "0" being mumbled together could possibly sound like a "2". Bucky was out of it, so he wasn't speaking clearly.
That said, maybe Sebastian should be asked directly if he remembers what the script said for the scene where Bucky is found by Steve incoherently mumbling his name, rank, military service number, and birthdate in CATFA before being rescued by Steve.
Some Questions On My Mind:
Why is it so hard to believe that Bucky enlisted in the military?
Why do some fans still insist that Bucky was drafted based on simple human error, creating a mistake in the finished version of Captain America: The First Avenger?
Why is it so hard to believe that Bucky would join the army willingly?
I just don't understand some fans' thought processes sometimes. I mean Bucky's story is already super sad, so why make even sadder?
