I can't seem to find out if Russert served in Vietnam.
Asking the President for that matter anyone ......why they didn't volunteer to go to Vietnam......is out of bound for someone(Russert) who it seems didn't even serve in the Guard while the Vietnam War was raging.
Russert was in his late teens to early twenties when the war was going on.
Here's some stuff:
Lottery Numbers, by Birthdate, for Selective Service Lottery Held December 1969
The lottery drawing held December 1, 1969, determined the order in which men, born from 1944 through 1950, were called to report for induction into the military.
Guess who got #35?
It also says:
Student Postponements - a college student may have his induction postponed until he finishes the current semester or, if a senior, the end of the academic year. A high school student may have his induction postponed until he graduates or until he reaches age 20.
http://www.sss.gov/classif.htmTimmy was old enough to go to war. my brother was at West Point and he was born in 1951. I'd almost stake my life on the fact he's never served!