[pabianice]

There were three common ways to avoid going to Viet Nam when you got your draft notice. Go to Canada, run down and quickly join the Air Force, Navy or National Guard. They weren't fool-proof though as Kerry found out.

This is just stupid. My shipmates and I served proudly and honorably in Vietnam.

[bayourod]

I'm sure you did, and a lot of sailors were killed in the war, but the common belief of boys my age looking at their options was that you were safer on a ship than on land.

A lot of airmen also died in Vietnam.

We had to weigh 2 years in the Army vs 4 years in the Navy/Air Force.