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

I signed my draft registration on Dec 26th, 1978. I was in college. The war was (mostly) done and very few were being drafted. How I ended up in the USMC 5 years later is another story. As for how I felt - I was fearful I would be drafted. I did not want to go kill people. I grew and matured over the years. Still, to this day, I *don't want to* kill people. However, I am prepared to do so. And yes, for me, war is that simple.

219... in 1971... and enlisted Mar 1973 2 months out of Collage...

Also not drafted, Enlisted in US Navy in 1976 under delayed entry program.
After graduating H.S. in '77 went to boot camp. Best career decision of my life!

I almost lost it. I was thankful I was in a program linking ROTC and the VT ARNG. I gave to notice to my Tact Officer and NCO chain. My SGM eventually took care of it.

I was all for America but would have preferred to wait until I finished college to go to enlist. I wanted to be an officer...I was pissed when I opened the notice. I was having to work full time loading trucks and study and make class and my grades were slipping. I felt like I could have pulled through but the selective service guys gave absolutely zero chance to me to do that. One failed test and 30 days later I got the greetings letter. My parents were pro America also but they left going up to me entirely.

I decided not to wait, and enlisted to make sure I would be on a tank. I enlisted 7 AUG 1964, the war hadn't started. I was a couple of weeks into BCT, when the SDI had one of those "gather round me" formations and informed us of the "Gulf of Tonkin Resulution". He also said that it might be a good idea to really pay attention to the training we were getting.

went in the usmc 1961

I went in,in 1974. Just missed.

Never received one. Entered the Marine Corps, and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on my 17th birthday. So I, so to speak beat the draft.

I laughed. I was early on aboard my second ship. I took the letter to the ship’s personnel office and never heard anything back.that would have been in March or April of 1967.

James Friedman
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