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

WOW! I now have proof that I was a Wanted Man. So I Volunteered in order to get the MOS I wanted and qualified for; NOT!

Confused, conflicted, but ready to serve as appropriate to earn my right of Citizenship. My Opinion of teh War was more a reflection on my station in life. If you provide nothing to your community, state, and Country, what right do you have to complain, or expect benefits of that community, or equality of respect when you provide nothing in which others can rate you, or your accomplishments, or service to the betterment, safety, and security of your community.

My parents were absent without leave (AWOL) in my life of decision making and therefore, my decision was grounded in ethics and morals predicated upon the only document I believed in... the Constitution. It is only now that I question not the Constitution as it stands, but the FANS of that Document who would rally around only the concepts that supported their goals, without sacrifice, and refuse the respect accorded to those that fought to preserve the VALUES that firmly grounded the United States of America... until its standing since the Clinton years. The old Mantra "America, Love it or Leave it" should be replaced with America, LIVE IT and LEARN FROM IT. Respect it and Sacrifice for it for the benefit of our future generations and not the enslavement of our minds through false prophesies of Politicians and Media Moguls.

My first reaction to a letter that was ordering me to sign up as I had not done so after my 18th BD . I laughed , as I was a Sgt 11B in Germany with the 2/54th Mech. I had enlisted shortly after I turned 17 . So , I informed them that I would not be doing that !

Draft notice? I enlisted in the Marine Corps.

Damn, not me. What do I tell the wife who is four months pregnant.

I got my draft letter about 2 weeks after I took my physical for the Air Force. I tested for the USAF when I was a Junior in High School and knew that's where I wanted to be .... especially with all the crap going on in Vietnam. At that time, I was working as a Boilermaker Apprentice at the Philly Naval Shipyard where I got a taste of the Navy. I knew I didn't want to spend a full enlistment in the bilge, so on my way home from work I went to the local recruiter office and signed up. With a number 24 in the draft lottery, I was going one way or another so I figured that while I had a chance to determine how I'd return (vertical or horizontal) the choice was clear. After signing on, I proceeded home to my parents house. Around the dinner table, they asked me if I did anything 'interesting' that day. I said, "yeah... on the way home, I joined the Air Force". That was met with a unison "You WHAT?" followed by the crashing of silverware on the dinner table. I felt really bad for them but I had to do what I had to do. I wasn't about to become a consciencious objector like a couiple of my peers did, and besides, I always was fascinated by aircraft. Now was my chance to grab my life by the horns and do things My Way. I was 19 at the time. The really strange part was that the Army draft board got into a battle with my recruiter over who owned me. I think I made the correct choice because less than 3 1/2 years after I enlisted, I became probably the youngest Staff Sergeant in the USAF at age 22.

I graduated high school June 18, 1965. I had already enlisted in the US Air Force. I knew I would be drafted quickly as my draft number was something like 16 or so. I received my draft notice according to my mother on July 7th. I was in Texas at boot camp. I reported to the draft board on Aug 31st while home on leave before reporting to Fort Myers, VA and the Pentagon. Walked in wearng my uniform and asked "When do I leave for the Army, SIR!!!!"
I was proud of that Air Force blue uniform and my E-2 stripe. I had a Top Secret clearance, was working in the Communication Center inside the Pentagon and visited the War Room, the JCS offices daily in my duties. While I did get to go for just over 2 months to Vietnam and got shot at, I did enjoy my tours of duty. I got out in Jan 1969 as an E-4, married a E-3 WAF I had met at at Offutt AFB. In March 1971 I reenlisted into the US Navy as an E-3 and by the time I got out I was an E-6 Data Processing Technician. I served on three ships (USS Paul FF1080, USS Fulton AS11, and USS Blue Ridge LCC19) and was stationed ashore in Atsugi and Yokosuka, Japan (3 years) and Pax River MD. Best years of my life.

I knew when they started the lottery I signed up for The Air force the same day I received my draft notice the Lord saved me that day!!!!

Never got one, but I joined ROTC just before they started the draft lottery. turned out to be good decision. My birthday was #5 on the hit parade. Need I say more?

I was "pissed" ! I had been admitted to Cornell University the Summer before and had that good old 2S deferment. Unfortunately, my Father had a series of strokes, so I stayed home to take care of him and my Mom and work. He lived. After nine months or so he recovered enough to return to work. Long story short, draft board didn't care about that and changed my status to 4A. And notice came in Spring for October '66 report date. More discussions with board, nothing doing. I spent the entire Summer in Acapulco with my French girlfriend, and also spent a bunch of my college savings as I was sure I would get killed in 'Nam. Obviously, I did not. My parents and entire family supported honorably serving, if not the war itself. That never came up in conversation. The only REAL influence I had was my brother-in-law, a partially disabled Marine combat veteran from Korea. He said if I joined the Marines, he personally would kill me before I left for duty. Point taken. ALL of my cousins were in one branch or other at the same time, so it also was a matter of family honor for me. Fortunately, the "stars aligned" and I was able to go to Armor OCS as a 19 year old, graduate, and spend most of my active duty in Germany. On the darn East German and Czech borders. Cold !
Nearly had a "dust up" with the Russians in '68. Glad to have served AND lived !

I got my draft notice while I was in Basic Training at Lackland AFB. I went to my DI and asked if I needed to do anything, we both had a good laugh. I enlisted because I wanted to thinking that if I did that just maybe someone against the war would not have to go in. My parents did not put any ideas into my head and supported me. My father was a little upset because I joined "the Air Corps" because he was in the Army during WWII