Posted on 10/14/2025 5:52:45 AM PDT by LouAvul
My children asked me what I did in the war, but I could not tell them . . . I AM the war.
In HS all the guys talked about were ways of getting deferred..................
New York times expected draft calls for 1972
I was getting to ETS from the ARMY when the draft lottery was put in motion. First number called was my Birthday, September 14th so there was no way I would have not been called had I not enlisted in the late 60s. The Vietnam Era draft was not new, there was a draft in place during the 50s. Even Elvis Presley was drafted! One thing I do recall is that on my induction day, about a third of those processed were drafted into the Marines. I thought that was unusual.
I was a HS graduate in 71 and then went to college so I know what you are talking about. In essence, the need for draftees to go to Vietnam ended due to Nixon winding down American troop levels in Vietnam. The few who were drafted that year were kept stateside or sent to units in Europe.
I don’t remember what my number was but I was drafted within months after getting out of college in 1971. My two older brothers were also drafted before me.
Found it !
This is about expected. low draft calls first 3 months 1972. I took my chances.
One of the big achievements of the Left was pinning Vietnam on Nixon, as if LBJ never existed.
76, but already in Air Force.
MYDRC
I learned to ride a motorcycle on the mean streets of Memfiis in the summer of ‘71 as a young Marine. My brother always laughed when I said Memphis with a lisp. I saw a picture of Elvis riding on one of those streets once. I was surprised I never ran into him. NO kings, BS! Elvis was and always will be America’s King in my eyes!
I graduated from High School in ‘66, got a college deferrment for two years at a JC but couldn’t decide on a major or 4 year college to go to. Knowing I’d be drafted into the Army with a high probability of going to Nam I decided to join the USAF 12/68, figuring that at worst I would be defending a base from Charlie instead of downrange looking for them in the Army. Wound up doing a year in ROK, not Nam. So while I wasn’t drafted the threat of the draft altered my life trajectory significantly.
I was a year shy in 74. Watched so many peers giving me their Boy Scout gear and later getting drunk watching the numbers drop.
Anyone remember the fears you just might die at eighteen? RIP to older friends who did or came back with life infuries.
My Number was 247, lucky me.
July 1971 - Had one of those “maybe, maybe not” numbers.
Had been talking to Air Force recruiter. Went in Monday 12 July 71 and got a ticket to go up to Richmond for the physical etc. next day.
Got back to town early enough to sign up. Told recruiter Thursday departure date, he said done. Dad hauled me to the bus station at oh-dark-thirty 15 July, we shook hands and I got on the bus.
Two weeks later my dad opens a letter from the US Army and finds the “Greetings” letter. He called them, said “too late”.
Never went to VN. Did spend six months TDY in Thailand. Closest I got to being shot at was some idjit mortared the wrong end of the base two months before I got there.
I volunteered after high-school because I didn’t want to become cannon fodder in LBJ’s warmachine by being put in the infantry. So I spent 4 years as a SIGINT (Signals intellligence) specialist, 1 year in ‘Nam and the rest in Okinawa and the States.
The draft law expired three days after my eighteenth birthday. I called the office ahead of my birthday with some question I had and the guy there told me not to bother about coming in, so I have never been registered with Selective Service.
I was 342. Tried to join the Marines but had a bad left eye.
I remember the draft very well, I fought it and had to beat before I would enlist in the Army, which I did immediately after getting my permanent deferment.
“Margaret Thatcher once quipped you could track the decline of the
British Empire with the invention and use of the telephone. I guess
she was implying Heretofore, commanders and viceroys in the field
ran their territories free of meddling by the home office. Pretty
much the same in WWII except for the onsight meddling later in the
game as they began deciding the political ending for the war in
Europe. By the time of Korea, we had the first instance of missions
being run out of the White House which was more than expanded under
Johnson in Vietnam. The results were disasterous.”
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