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During most of Kerry's years at Yale, 1962 to 1966, his world revolved around his cozy dormitory at Jonathan Edwards College, a Gothic-style quadrangle complex. Kerry lived in a three-room suite, complete with fireplace, along with his roommates, St. Paul's buddy Barbiero and Harvey Bundy, whose uncles William and McGeorge Bundy were part of the Kennedy administration brain trust and among the most aggressive proponents of escalating the US involvement in Vietnam.

When William Bundy, then assistant secretary of state for Far Eastern affairs, came to campus to speak in support of US involvement in the Vietnam War, he was greeted as a living legacy to the slain president. After his speech, he visited his nephew's suite and talked with the roommates, including Kerry, into the wee hours of the morning. ``[We were] all drinking beer and sitting around and talking about, you know, Southeast Asia and domino [theories] and war,'' Kerry recalled. Bundy's overriding theme to the young men was this: ``We need you. We need you to go into the officer program and to go to Vietnam.''

The visit nudged the students in the direction of Vietnam. ``I don't know that he was the prime mover in us going,'' added Barbiero, ``but he was certainly an influence. He was an assistant secretary of state.''

As graduation approached, Kerry knew that he had three choices: be drafted, seek a deferment for graduate school, or join up and position himself to become an officer. ``It was clear to me that I was going to be at risk,'' Kerry recalled. ``My draft board . . . said, `Look, the likelihood is you are probably going to be drafted.' I said, `If I'm going to be drafted, I'd like to have responsibility and be an officer.' ''

At the same time, Kerry was losing interest in academics and was ready for adventure. ``I cut classes,'' Kerry said. ``I didn't do much. I spent a lot of time learning to fly.''

Kerry also had political ambitions -- and was aware of how much military service had served John Kennedy's career.

``John would clearly say, `If I could make my dream come true, it would be running for president of the United States,' '' recalled William Stanberry, Kerry's debate team partner for three years. ``It was not a casual interest. It was a serious, stated interest. His lifetime ambition was to be in political office.''

As graduation approached, Kerry knew that he had three choices: be drafted...

I wonder what Kerry would have chosen to do, if he had been looking forward to graduation in 1968 instead of 1966?

Americans suffered over 2X as many casualties per month in early 1968 than in early 1966.

1966 --Jan - 196; Feb - 208; Mar - 231;

1968 -- Jan - 498; Feb - 506; Mar - 515