It was not in my nature to shirk the call to duty. You know, let it be done unto me ...
I do need to correct an error. It was 1970. My basic training started 2 Jan 1971.
And just what would have happened to you; if you'd ignored the letter?
Mine started on 12 Dec 67. I had gotten my draft notice, so I joined the USAF. I didn't run to Canada either, though I could have. I didn't ever feel like the USAF was my cup of tea, so don't ask me how I tolerated it for 20 years, because I don't know. Part of it, I suppose, was I always worked in air conditioning, even in Vietnam. We were prohibited by regulations from working overtime, and much of the time, worked 5 or 6 hour shifts. In Vietnam, the other guys called us water walkers, because we didn't pull KP, guard duty, or any other kind of worthless activity.
Standing guard on the perimeter, during the monsoon season, was not exactly my idea of fun.