What were your feelings and thoughts when you first opened your draft notice?

I enlisted also at 17 fresh out of High School, Parents were Military and whole Family was also Military. My duty was to my Country no one else.

Graduated from High School in 1961. Joined the Air Force in December when I turned 18. Never did receive a draft notice. Best friend went to college, got married, got drafted and ended up in Vietnam. You never knew.

Sgt John Guglielmi -
I DROPPED OUT Of Public Schools Mid 9th Grade....Enlisted ON My 17th Birthday; ~~ 06/29/1961~~ And I Had To LIE To Get IN. The minimum Requirement At THAT Time, Was 10 grade.... SO When I Hit My 1st Base, Little Rock AFB (SAC), I Ran To The Education Office & Completed My GED ~ Then For 4 Years Running, I Took EVER Business Course I Could Lay My Hands On, Through U.S.A.F.I. ~ The "United States Armed Forces Institute".. And I Thank The Gods For Them!! A REAL "Life Changer"!!.
~~~ THANK YOU USAF ~~~~~

I'm glad you're still that guy. Keeps everyone around you on their toes.

You said bugle is that as in drum and bugle? If so who did you March with? As for me Blue Angels Drum Corp from Danvers Massachusetts. And thank you for your service.

Never got one either. Enlisted in the A.F. 11 July 1955 ten days before I turned 18. Before that I had played baritone bugle in the Racine Boy Scouts Drum and Bugle Corp. Nine months after I enlisted I was at my first assignment in the UK. The AF had bands back then but I don't think they had a D & C and I don't think they needed a bugle player. I enjoyed both including my 24 years with the A.F. I have watched the Marines perform on several occasions and they are what I would consider as a real D & C. Hopefully they will continue on in that manner for a long time.

Enlisted in '68.......beat the crowd!!

I was drafted my senior year at the University of California, Berkeley. I went through drone electronics school at Fort Huachuca and then sent to Italy where I spent the next 17 months. Was discharged in September, 1965 and went back to Berkeley to finish up and graduate.

I was surprised in April 1967. I just got to the USA,,from Barcelona Spain..Permanent resident(Green Card) I reported to the selective service, as I was told to do so..In sep 1967 I got the letter>>:Draft.. , I was sent to Americal Division, Chulai, Vietnam..7 month after. some one told to me, get ready, I will go to Honolulu, Hawaii to became US citizen. 4 soldiers including me went to Honolulu for 7 days. Until now, I do not know who did the paper work to became US citizen,,It was great after all. Good men..LBJ.

re. Sgt T Hallock-
Thank you for the reasons you had for joining.

Sgt Ron Romano - Thank you Ron.

Sgt (Join to see) - Since you responded, I hope you don't mind if we can maybe correspond a little. I have so much to ask but I promise to try not to be overwhelming

Full disclosure, My Dad was a Vietnam Veteran and career Air Force, putting in 23 years. He was there in 1970-71. We stayed at Ft. Campbell, KY which was a waiting wives base. The Army took good care of us while he was away. I'm 62 so I was 11 and 12 at the time. He's gone now, died of prostate cancer. I served 4 years in the USAF 1977-81.

He never spoke about it much but I do know he didn't like what he was seeing or what happened. I also know he would have absolutely no desire or interest to become friends with the enemy especially at the expense of SV.

If I have any criticism of you guys (and I say that in no derogatory way) it's the nonchalant way the majority of you seem to have taken it over the years. First, there was the crushing emotional toll when Saigon fell and then years of confusion if I can put it that way and then the current attitude; win some lose some kind of thing.

I may ramble so please forgive me. Instead of blind fury, there's something else. And comensurating with NVA soldiers stateside, inviting them to tell their stories over some brews and snacks isn't practical or the right thing to do.

You guys know more than anyone what monsters they were and still are. And we were Saints compared to them. I don't say that with any hesitation. Not My Lai or anything was worse than their infractions. 10 times as many civilians died in the massacre at Hue than My Lai. There's a memorial for My Lai, none for Hue.

It's also an insult to the S Vietnamese who suffered, during the war, after, now and forever with the communists in power. Seeing an NVA soldier being greeted by our own and being given a celebratory welcome is a kick in the head for a SV soldier or civilian.

I'd like to know what your feelings are in establishing relations with the communist regime. It's been 25 years already but I don't think we should have, what are your thoughts? They have to be doing something for us or giving us something really special to make it worth it.

Before, we were criticized for wanting to help a less than perfect SV government and now it's Ok to work with the worst one in all of V history, the most corrupt, the most incompetent, the most repressive. Unbelieveable.

Unless the communists are funding scholarships for our veterans and their families or contributing to a general welfare fund for our V Veterans or making restitution to V refugees, there is no good reason to be friends with them.

We're supposed to feel guilt and shame but let it be for the right reason. We don't feel guilt and shame for failing, only for trying. But we had to try, it would have been much worse if we didn't try.

Thank you for you time.

Best regards.
Ron Romano
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Fred: I joined the Marines on my 18th birthday and my dad was a WW II and Korean Naval veteran. My twin brother joined the Army paratroops. My dad was disappointed one of us didn't join the Navy but I told him at least the Marines were part of the Navy! Thank you for your distinguished service to this great nation and Army! COL L

PO2 David Dunlap - My youngest son was in the Navy for 11 years. He was an Iraq and Afghanistan vet and was also a troubleshooter on the deck of the Enterprise. Later he became a plank owner on the George H W Bush. Even has a challenge coin from the former president. Spent his last two years as a recruiter. I would say that I'm not bragging, but he is my son after all.

Sgt William Straub Jr. The airdale!!! That's so funny.

No more Eagle Rising. I had to make the switch while in Iraq 2004. Not many cared for it then or now.

Major very interesting story and love the way your mother handled the situation. While not West Point, I finished OCS Oct '69 was in Nam by Sept '70.

Only point on which we differ is the war. We should have never been there, wasn't our war, the Vietnamese were no threat to us. Ho was a Nationalist who had been doubled-crossed by the Allies when they allowed the French back into his country. The Dulles brothers were the worst, then Westmoreland, McNamara, Rusk and LBJ (may I spit on his grave). The only person I respect on Vietnam was John Paul Vann. There was a strong belief among many of my fellow Jr officers that we should withdraw. Even some of the WP grads joined us in that. I liked several WP guys who sat around the "O" club figuring out how to get out the Army! Needless to say, to this day I do not believe in politicized patriotism such as we see today.

Pete: A great story! Thank you for your distinguished service. You are on-target about General Giap and our "near victory." It always bewildered me that the Marines and Army send us to great schools and taught us things like the Principles of War (e.g., go on offensive, have a clear objective, and things like mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of effort, surprise, speed, security, etc.) and many of our leaders violated those principles but I'm with you, it was mostly the politicians and I think the news media that contributed to us fighting a "limited war" and they helped us lose support of the people. President Nixon was combat ineffective when I was in the Marines due to Watergate as well. I think President Johnson was reluctant to listen to his generals as well, including USMC LTGEN Krulak and others. Again, thank you for your exemplary service. V/R, COL L

I was with you all the way up to your comment about Giap and the possibility of North Vietnam folding - yet another myth about the war. We should never have been there in the first place. Even McNamara eventually figured out we weren't making any headway.

You are so right Sir! Let the soldiers fight the war. Only the President should have a say

Great response Ray!!!

LtCol Brian Ford -
LtCol Ford, I agree with all of your comments!

Semper Fi Gunny/CW4. Not sure which to address you as! I always had more respect for most warrant officers (because I knew they were enlisted first) and officers who were enlisted before becoming commissioned officer. No offense intended to officers who were never enlisted but I do speak for the majority of enlisted Marines when I say what I did in this post.

Cpl Vic Burk - Thanks for the sentiment, I am sure we Gunners appreciate it, but never forget a lot of good SNCO's raised some fine offspring who went through an academy or ROTC programs with chevrons tattoed on their rearends... I have one of each myself... Son - USMA 94 & Daughter ROTC 2001 Both have never forgotten their "Enlisted Roots & Training"

Same here. I never registered and got a letter from the Sheriff's Office giving me a week to register or I would be arrested. I gave it to the DI who took care of it. It was apparently a common thing because the DI didn't think anything about it.

Almost lost my license over not signing up for the draft. Had to square that away after Airborne School before reporting to Ft Drum.

I volunteered.

Double posting

Thank you Randall. Happy and safe new year to you and your family.

LTC Wayne Dandridge - I turned down three offers of direct commission. After the third I got rifted. Maybe the Army was trying to tell me something.

Fred, There is a great Cav Pilots and crew members combat story in BLADES OF THUNDER (Book One).

CW2 Fred Baker - On the mention of books, this one CW2 was written by a US Army, CW2 Layne Heath wo was a chopper pilot Himself in Vietnam. The book was great and what He had written only a person that had been there would have been able to cover as well as He did. Even His brief description of the hut He lived in there. In my opinion as a Vietnam Veteran Myself He was right on target with the entire text of His great book.

CMSgt John Momaney thanks for sharing your story with the group and thanks for your service! Awesome!

I also enlisted in the Air Force at age 18 soon after graduating from High School. Prior to enlisting I had been both a Cadet in Civil Air Patrol and also had been a Cadet at a Military Academy. I went to Boston Army Base for the physical etc. and one moth after that left for basic training at Lackland AFB, TX in August 1966. I did spend 1968 and part of 1969 in Vietnam. I retired from the USAF as a SMSgt with 22 years in Air Force Blue. During that time plus before and after I also has spent over 40 years in Civil Air Patrol, the USAF Auxiliary. My Dad, a WWII, Korea US Navy Veteran also spent over 40 years in CAP and was a Lt Colonel there. My brother also spent over 40 years in CAP. My Dad kept telling Me how proud He was of Me when I was in the Air Force.

CAPT Kevin B. Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

CAPT Kevin B. - awwsome that your mom used the lingo too. They had to have known she wasn't telling them a fib. Go mom!

Mom would have carved them a new one at some point. Same thing when the US Marshalls were looking for me too. They stopped by there after my wife sent them packing.

To my recollection, I was already separated from active duty (10/69) and in the active reserves when the lottery began (what was it '69 or '70 ?). I was back home and going to college full-time at Univ. of Illinois. Lots of guys were worried about the lottery there. I think I would have had very low numbers based on my birthdate every time, but lied to my classmates, as the War was so unpopular on campus. No one but my future wife and closest friends knew I ever served, much less was an officer. I "came clean" to people later, like '73 or so, when the last guys got sent to 'Nam. And yes, I've forgiven myself for those lies.