If all Bush wanted to do was cheer up and motivate the GIs he didn't need pool reporters along. He risked the secret getting out for great publicity.
As far as trying to keep their son's or themselves alive, this isn't anything new. We've had people trying to stay out of combat in every war. Vietnam, and to a lesser extent Korea, increase those because the causes didn't seem good enough to die for.
Our military is made up primarily of poor, rural minorities. In 20 years, unless we start electing poor, rural minorities to office, we won't have candidates with any military service.
The United States has killed more people in war than any other civilization in history. We are a lean mean killin' machine.