The Jewish Welfare Board and Religious Pluralism in the American Military of World War I

"6 As the country prepared for its entry into World War i, Baker es- tablished the commission on Training camp activities to oversee the provision of welfare services to soldiers and he named Fosdick as its chairman.7 Baker charged the cTca with creating a clean and morally uplifting military by helping each man don what he called an "invisible armor" designed to protect him from temptation. in place of the bars and brothels found on the mexican border, the cTca would provide wholesome activities, such as athletic competitions, lectures, classes, reading rooms, sing-a-longs and theatrical performances, as well as social and spiritual services-all designed to boost morale and promote patriotism, self-sacrifice, teamwork, fair play, physical fitness, temper- ance and sexual self-restraint.