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For those of you around for Vietnam Era

bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
edited September 2001 in General Discussion
I'm just a young pup at 26 years old so thought I'd ask my elders about this one.During the draft for Vietnam the ship off date was based on birth date right? How long did you get called for, 2 years? Were there any occupations that didn't get drafted (such as civil service)?How about religious groups (like Amish or other passivists)Finally was the age cut off 32? (I think thats what it generally is for enlisting)
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Comments

  • soopsoop Member Posts: 4,633
    edited November -1
    my cousin was given a deferment to stay on the family farm.
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  • alledanalledan Member Posts: 19,541
    edited November -1
    The draft was actually a lottery drawing. there were 365 little white balls each numbered 1-365. Each number reprsented a day/month. Mine was 56. It was the only lottery i ever won. When I got my draft papers all i was doing was having a good time after school. I decided not to go on into the army because of a friend who died in Nam so I enlisted in the Marines as he did!There were deferments like student, police officer etc. There were also shameful deferments like consciencious objector and draft dodger.
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  • HAIRYHAIRY Member Posts: 23,606
    edited November -1
    Alledan: Certainly you're not suggesting that Mohammed Ali (a conscientious objector) was a draft dodger, are you? IMHO, he stood up for what he believed (compare Clinton, et al) and went to jail for his beliefs. Today, he is recognized worldwide and even the Bush administration was pleased to have him visit the WTC site and denounce the terrorists who happen to be Muslim.
    It's not what you know that gets you in trouble, it's what you know that just ain't so!
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  • Smoky14Smoky14 Member Posts: 531 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I get the impression you are looking for a way out bhale. The great thing about the draft should be the fact that it is blind selection, thus a true cross section of our country. But the Al Gore/Clinton factor always comes in "how can I get out of serving". If you have money you have power, if you have power you will be able to escape duty to your country. Your future then will then be in politics, where honor and service to your country mean little.Yes I know Gore was there but, my Daddy couldn't afford security guards and have the PI to keep me in an office.Bitter...no. Tired of people who won't step up.....you're D... right.
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  • 4000fps4000fps Member Posts: 786 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    alledanThere were actually 366 little white balls, they had to include leap year. #366 was June 8, my birthday!! This was the only lottery I ever won.
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  • usmc2498215usmc2498215 Member Posts: 82 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'll never forget when my lottery number caught up with me; June 21st 1969. Of course I had been in Vietnam for the last three months. Ooppps!
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  • RembrandtRembrandt Member Posts: 4,486 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mine came up number 18, was prepared to go Navy like my dad, but didn't pass the physical....lost a couple classmates who didn't make it back.
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  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    The lottery wasn't implemented until the late sixties. Prior to that I don't know how they decided who to draft. Maybe they just drafted everybody.
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  • john wjohn w Member Posts: 4,104
    edited November -1
    I dont rember anything about little BALLS i just got my notice and then the physical and then those who passed it went within two weeks. As i recall my notice was roughly around sept of 1969
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    smoky14screw you. who are you to accuse me of trying to get out of something that doesn't even exist yet. i tried to ask a question about how draft worked in the 60s and you think i'm looking to side step it if it comes along again. My uncle was killd in action during the war, my dad went to enlist and wasn't allowed to because my grandmother had already spoken to them about it and he was denied because he was only surviving son after his brother killed in action. Dad couldn't remember all the specifics when I asked him about the draft so thought I'd come here to ask how it worked. Do I want to go to some * hole like Aghan and leave family behind? Hell no Will I go if called? HELL YES
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  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    Hairy, YEAH I think ol Cassius Clay was and is a draft dodger!! He came upon the 'religious belief' scam late, he first tried to get out on health reasons!!He (and all the other draft dodging scum) should STILL be in jail.
    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
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  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    I agree about Mr. Clay/Ali. Screw him. He was right there to take all this country had to offer. An ignorant * like him could never make the money he made boxing in any other country. But when he was asked to do something for this country he wimped-out like a little girl.He should never have been let back into professional boxing.
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  • rodgergliderodgerglide Member Posts: 184 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I feel that ALL able bodied men and women enjoying the liberties of this country should serve it in some way.Most European countrys have a manditory 2 year enlistment.There are many ways to serve even if the military is not an option. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE ! What have YOU done ?
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  • badboybobbadboybob Member Posts: 1,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    At the risk of getting my * flamed I will state that I do NOT believe that man's life belongs to the state. Therefore the draft is nothing more than slavery.That said I served my country VOLUNTARILY for 21 years. Let you who have done nothing keep quiet.I agree that all patriots should want to serve America, but the choice is theirs, not some slave law.
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  • Smoky14Smoky14 Member Posts: 531 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    bhale don't be so sensitive. I just figured if you were looking for the way IN you'd just go sign up.I had a brother KIA and served two tours myself as an only remaining son. Been there done that.Maybe I'm just a little touchy about the whole damn thing.
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    smokyyou're right I'm not looking for a way in, but on the side note I'm not looking for a way out either. If my country needs me and more warm bodies to fight they'll make a public call for us and I'll go in a heart beat. Your service as well as all others is deeply appreciated by myself and millions of others-sorry I snapped like that just took that as a personal attack against my love of our glorious nation. I was just asking for a little history lesson.
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  • turboturbo Member Posts: 820 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For those of you who may not know. The draft included all registered citizens as well as non citizens above the age of 18 years old. I registered as required by law on my 18 birthday and was drafted, white balls or no white balls, eleven months later in 1965, as a result of Presidents declaring the Vietnam conflict. I served 15 months in VN with the First Infantry Division, and was Honorably discharged with the rank of Sp5 the day after returning to this country.Today I am a Naturalized Citizen of this Great Country.My two cents follows:We don't need no stinking draft, what we need is citizens (that will not wait for someone else to tell them what they ought to do, for there are many ways to serve ones country) that will simply step up and do their civic dutyEvery person living in this country, should serve a minimum period as token of their gratitude and appreaciation for living with freedoms,passed down as a birth right; unknown to any other peoples of the nations of this here earth; handed down by Patriots thruout the generations since the establishment of this Republic who have paid for these rightd by the shedding of their blood and giving of their lives.The serving of ones country should be a prerequisite for employment within any public post, local, state, federal government.It's sad when we have teachers in public schools, defaming the flag and the country while enjoying there posiions as teachers of our next generations; or Professor with secure posts at colleges literally teaching their anti-american agends and sentiments, while having ties to terrorists, or elected officials openly calling for the overthrow of the government, how about evading service to your country and then becoming the commander and chief. How about requiring service to the country before being able to ask for Naturalization status.I know I got off the subject a bit.....
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  • Smoky14Smoky14 Member Posts: 531 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    bhaleNo harm no foul. Some things in life never leave and are never right, even after all these years. Keep your powder dry as the opportunity to serve may come at home.turboLots of good points; I agree.
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  • redcedarsredcedars Member Posts: 919 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My lottery number was 76. They were projecting drafting up to 75, but since they had actually drafted numbers twice as high as predicted the year before, I knew I was going.I too failed the physical. Some friends and schoolmates who went didn't come back, others who did were changed forever. The more I learned of their often horrifying experiences, the more I saw how they had been affected, the worse I felt.I felt so guilty that I decided to find a way to contribute, somehow, someday. When I entered my profession, in which it is possible to become wealthy, I chose instead to enter a low-paying public service field, in large part to make up for it. I never regretted it, as I found there are rewards greater than material wealth. It did help assuage the guilt I had carried for years for being here safe, although I will carry some of that guilt to my grave. I still wish I could have done more.redcedars
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  • Smoky14Smoky14 Member Posts: 531 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    redcedarsWhen is enough, enough?
    Respect for self Respect for others Responsible for all actions
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  • .250Savage.250Savage Member Posts: 812 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Probably too old for the draft now (37), tho they were taking anyone who could walk (practically) during WWII. Also gotten kinda fat. Might still come to that, but doubt it. When I turned 18, I registered for the draft, agree with gov't policy which denies jobs/benifits to those who don't. Never served (no war going on when I was young enough to do so, had other things going on in my life then), but sure wouldn't have run w/ tail between legs to Canada, then or now. Highest possible civilian salute to those who sat in mud n' blood for this nation, spit upon those who dodged their duty. Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you wish peace, prepare for war).
    I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.--Voltare
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  • ndbillyndbilly Member Posts: 1,573 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Help me out here. Used to be a bunch of different classifications (1-A to 4-F) up until about 1972. Then everyone was reclassified 1-H as I recall. What was the reasoning?
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