Posted on 09/12/2004 5:26:50 AM PDT by meatloaf
Ah, yes, Grasshopper.
But between 1975 and 1979 they did not have to. Carter re-instated the draft registration after the USSR invaded Afgahnistan in 1979.
Trust me, I know.
Sure he was....... Why do you think he immediately enlisted at graduation [May 1968]?... There has been a draft in place every year from 1940 until 1973 when the all volunteer military began. 1968 and 1969 were the highest two years of the draft during the Vietnam era. The draft lottery system was in place from 1970 until 1973...... It in effect replaced the old system of 'oldest available' person used prior to 1970 to one that was based upon your number assigned to your birthdate for your birth year. Once you got passed that year you were okay and deferments were very limited with the lottery system......
Here is the draft numbers ......
Inductions (by year) from World War I through the end of the draft (1973)
| Year: | Number of Inductions | |
|
1917: |
516,212 2,294,084 18,633 923,842 3,033,361 3,323,970 1,591,942 945,862 183,383 0 20,348 9,781 219,771 551,806 438,479 471,806 253,230 152,777 137,940 138,504 142,246 96,153 86,602 118,586 82,060 119,265 112,386 230,991 382,010 228,263 296,406 283,586 162,746 94,092 49,514 646 |
|
I was a 38, but I had already returned from Vietnam. Bush was in the middle of his second year of Service.
So in practical terms, until the lottery in 1969, it was still oldest man first which meant he could be called for the draft from 18 1/2 until that drawing (barring deferments of course-trying to get policy straight)?
I think I have it straight. I am just trying to understand the policy. I remember the Viet Nam years well. I will never, ever question anyone going onto the NG to avoid the draft. Context of the times has been lost in most of the dems spin.
Nice try but he would have needed a medical deferment or something to keep him free from the draft from the moment he graduated from college in '68 until he could have been drafted under the lottery in '70. I was in same graduating class as Bush and I took draft physical weeks after graduation. Having been deferred for four years he would have been drafted within months of graduation and the lottery wasnt even being discussed as an idea until more than a year later.
See my 44 & 45....trying to understand it all. Too many dates & numbers sloshing around in my brain.
Bush went into the Guard right after graduation in 1968, the Draft was started in around 1966 but the Lottery system came in in late 1969. Remember Clinton was able to stall things until this lottery system came in and he got a high number so that he knew he would not be drafted.
The secret's out! We're all high level Bush Administration officials posting to each other on the internet since we have *so much* free time. Never mind that many of us signed up in '97 and '98, it's all part of the Neocon, Skull'n'Bones, Build-a Burger, Tri-lat Vast Right Wing Conspiracy to take over the country.
If you don't know WHO I am, then you're not in the upper Eschelon :-)
the Draft was started in around 1966
NO! Not unless he failed the pre-induction physical. Starting either in 67 or 68 they no longer allowed deferments for post graduate study. They had long before quit giving deferments for occupations, etc. Unless you didnt qualify medically you were going to get drafted, especially if you had already received four deferments to complete college.
Unlike Iraq, at least 150 Americans were dying every week in Vietnam. Our troop strength there was more than three times what we have in Iraq. They were serious back in those days. A congressman's son better get in the guard or get a medical deferment because otherwise you were going overseas.
According to reports Bush actually requested Vietnam twice.
I went to High School in Houston and then the University of Texas. Sometime between 1967 and 1970 I was CONTACTED BY THE TNG and told they had openings if I was interested. This happened TWICE.
I was only referring to when the Draft was used in the Vietnam War not previous ones.
Why not? He still would have been drafted. He still most likely would have gone to Vietnam. He may have worked as a reporter like Private Gore but he still would have been at risk (TET was 68 and viet cong even got into the US embassy in Saigon) and there were college grads in rifle plattons.
Bush enlisted into the Guard in 1968
It does get complicated but for those of us facing the draft in 68 and 69 it is hard to forget. My draft number in the first lottery was 332 but I had a medical deferment. I think if my blood pressure has ever gotten to normal, I would have lost that lottery number and would have been subject to the number I received in the year I lost my deferment. Other than Medical, there were few if any deferment beyond four years of college.
It would be interesting to see some proof of that. I think some of the public believes you needed a special pass to get into the TNG.
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