Not precisely true, but the draft had leveled off considerably by then.
I believe that the first Vietnam draft lottery took place in December 1969 and the last in February 1972.
Everyone born in 1953 was 18 years old by February 1972 and therefore legally subject to the draft.
WHY IS NO ONE ASKING WHY THE hE_ _ DIDN'T JOHN EDWARDS VOLUNTERR FOR ACTIVE DUTY, IF THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. INSTEAD OF BEING A "girly man".
Let me add regarding the draft back in 1964-
The list basically went this way
single men were 1A and lots were available
single men in college
married men without children
married men
When a person was drafted they could be sent to the army, navy, or marine corps. Whichever service needed men.
Kerry was graduating from college and he was 1A so he went to his draft board and requested a deferment so he could go to Paris and study for a year. This was at a time of the greatest buildup of troops and his deferment was turned down. Because he was afraid that he could end up in the infantry he went to the Navy and enlisted because he thought he could avoid Vietnam. He did for a while on the Gridley but then, allegedly a close friend was killed and he requested duty with the swift boats. As we see he, unlike others who served at least a year, he got out as soon as he could. (since my husband spent 14 months in Vietnam I resent that Kerry cut and ran after 120 days)
(the above info is from the Harvard Crimson and the Boston Globe)
Then he betrayed his country and his fellow soldiers.