[MarkDel]

I mean no disrespect to you if you're a Vietnam veteran, but I based my feeling on the very unscientific method of personally speaking to vets of World War II and Vietnam. I have yet to personally meet a World War II vet who was drafted, or one who talked disparagingly of the military. Sadly, I have met many, many Vietnam veterans who were unwilling draftees who bitch constantly of the military. Now as the author of "Stolen Valor" has often pointed out, many of the so-called "Vietnam Vets" were not really vets.

Also, I have researched the "numbers" and they definitely point to you being right in your assertion...it's just that my personal experience with veterans from the two wars has been very different.

[Archangelsk]

Now as the author of "Stolen Valor" has often pointed out, many of the so-called "Vietnam Vets" were not really vets.

A great point and an excellent book. I'm sure you were ready to throw an apopletic fit when you read the sections about how the VA has scammed billions of dollars of tax payer money for these "veterans".

Go to the web site for more information.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I was not going to post again on this thread, but I think you deserve a response.

My problem is not with those who served (honorably) in the Guard before or after Vietnam, but with the many thousands who used the NG as a convenient escape hatch to keep their lilly-white asses from being shot off. The VAST majority of these folks were from families with political connections, and/or financial resources. No-one wants to deal with this now, and we are ALL "veterans"- but some of us know better, and we have not forgotten the smugness of the National Guardsman doing his little "ACDUTRA", with zero risk of being sent overseas.

In partial answer to another poster, yes, I include ALL of the current politicians who used this escape hatch to avoid Vietnam. I am not trying to "have it both ways". All I can say is that Clinton was much, much worse!

By the way, the role of the Army Reserve and the National Guard is dramatically different now- and deserving of a LOT of respect!

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Oh, by the way, we had 12 million men under arms in WW II. Do you really believe that they were ALL volunteers? Ask your WW II veteran buddies for their DD 214's- I am willing to bet that the majority will have "US" service numbers (draftees).

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"I have yet to personally meet a World War II vet who was drafted,..."

Some of them are lying. Sorry to break it to you like this.

[RugerM77]

>>>I mean no disrespect to you if you're a Vietnam veteran, but I based my feeling on the very unscientific method of personally speaking to vets of World War II and Vietnam. I have yet to personally meet a World War II vet who was drafted, or one who talked disparagingly of the military<<<<

I believe that from about 1943 onward(for the duration of WW2 anyway)-enlistment was forbidden and everything was done through the Draft.