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

I had failed a West Point and advanced ROTC physical, so figured I would fail that as well. Nope, passed with flying colors and spent more than 30 years doing want I wanted to do, be in the Army. Retired as a colonel.

I delayed entry enlisted in the Corps as a High School Senior in 1970, and headed off the boot camp a week after graduation.

First response shock. Draft board director called to tell me they dropped draft notice in mail. Later realized that call was best thing as I joined US Army as RA inductee. Opened all kinds of doors and opportunities. As southern boy, ran down to local barber, got a crew cut, got my head tanned before entry, passed through military barber line, got my first military $20.00 spent it on PX Static footlocker display. Qualified OCS, qualified as OCS Officer Instructor (black hat commander) , qualified as rotor wing pilot, served two Air Cavalry Units, Vietnam, etc

I knew my number was coming up, so I enlisted in the Marines with two HS friends of mine via the Delayed Entry Program. My dad (a retired USA Infantry LTC, WWII and Korea Vet) kind of jump-started the process by always asking me where I was going to live after HS, how was I going to afford college, where was I going to work without a car, etc etc etc.

My thoughts on the war? Well, I was very much aware of what was going on growing up in the Bay Area of California in the 60's. But, coming from a family that fought in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, WWII, Korea, I just figured I had an obligation to serve. Besides, I was young and thought I'd live forever. The genesis of my real understanding of the dynamics of our involvement in Vietnam didn't take place until I went to college. One of the most eye-opening books on our involvement in Vietnam, btw, is A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan. Highly recommend it.

I had no real stance on the war, they gave me the "special talents" speech and sent me back less than six months after my return from Korea. My opinion was always that I was a professional and this was my job.

I was pumping gas at my dad station, having just graduated from high school. I had already enlisted in the navy and was waiting to go to boot camp. I saved the notice and its with my DD-214

Here is another perspective on the question.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/21/opinion/what-it-was-like-to-be-drafted.html

ROFLMAO.....I was in the Navy two years before mine was delivered to my home in Pa. I happened to call home and was told about it. I laughed and told my mother to ignore it if they couldn't figure that out it was their problem.

I took the bus to Norfolk the next morning with one change of clothing and told my Mom to wait 3 days before calling them to tell them I had joined the Navy. I walked into the recruiting office and said "sign me up". I almost aced the test they gave me. I was on a bus to the Richmond processing center that night, paperwork and physical the next day, and RTC Great Lakes the next. First duty station? Cam Rahn Bay.

CARPET NUKE ALL OF VIETNAM DAY IN DAY OUT ---