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

Never got one or a draft card, enlisted on my 18th birthday and left for basic 5 days later.

I was drafted in 1969, just before the lottery kicked in. A Marine Sgt. walked down the line and tapped men on the shoulder and said to step out if you were tapped. we stepped forward and he informed us we were drafted into the Marines. I said no way and he was nice about it - told me I had to do 3 years in the Army.

Was so long ago, do not really nor specifically remember; but probably oh, no, I don't wanna die in Vietnam....survived it and continued in US Army until retiring in 2008.

Excitement, My # was in the 300. I volunteer Like a true Citizen that believe in the story about God and country both of which turned out too be trader organizations.

I received draft notice in May of 1969. I had no particular stance on Vietnam at that time, On 26 June 1969, I enlisted in the Navy. Immediately after completing basic training, I was transferred to a guided missile destroyer in Norfolk, Va. I was initially assigned to the Deck Force with duties of mostly painting things, chipping paint, swapping the deck and loading ammunition. Fortunately, a First Class Yeoman requested that I be assigned to the Ship's Office. A couple of months later, I was transferred to Personnelman "A" School. And, after completing "A" School, I was transferred to a helicopter carrier in San Diego, CA and immediately deployed top to the Tonkin Gulf were we conducted combat support operations for Marines in Vietnam. After one year, I was transferred to another ship, dock landing, and deployed again to the Tonkin Gulf were we provided amphibious and combat support to Sailors and Marines. On this deployment, we transported troops uand supplies into numerous inland waterways of Vietnam and came under fire.

I went on to advance to Chief Petty Officer before receiving a commission via an in service procurement board for Limited Duty Officer. After completing 26 years on active duty, I retired and went to work for the Navy as a civilian, first as a contractor and then as a government service employee for the last 12 years before retiring on 1 January 2015.

3rd week of Navy boot camp (see profile photo), I brought it to my Company Commander, SFC Nabors, who laughed and said “Don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it” and “Your ass is the Navy’s!”

well I join in 1959 so the draft did not even think about, would have stayed longed but got shot

It was the summer of 1967 after my 3rd year in college in central Florida, I was off in Europe attending a 5 week travel-study program abroad for 4 additional college credits. I was paying my own way in college so my father agreed to graciously pay for this opportunity as also my younger brother. I had been watching the news every night and knew what was happening and why. Upon returning from the airport after the trip I was informed (eventually!) that my draft notice had arrived while I was gone and I only had 2 weeks left to report! I was startled since I was given a 2S draft deferment and had 2 more years to go in Florida's 5 year program for engineering degrees. They insisted that the deferment was only good for 4 years of college and since I wouldn't graduate at the end of 4 years my deferment was revoked! My Dad had gone to West Point and into the Army Air Corps for WWII which became the US Air Force after that. So he wanted to take me to the USAF recruiters and to go Air Force. I had no problems with that as I wanted to make my Dad proud and content. However, there was a 6 month waiting list to get into it! So, after getting some advice from my future father-in-law, a retired Marine Corps Sgt. Maj., I was "shown my path"!

I knew what communism was and some of its terrible history. I believed the "Domino Theory" about communism in SE Asia, so I was not against the war in principle. As time would show, that was correct and many hundreds of thousands died to prove that point. I DID disagree with the way the war was prosecuted! It is STILL my opinion that the politicians get first crack at diplomatically PREVENTING a war with discussions & "compromise", but if THEY fail in that regard, then they give the military the LEAD and we go resolve the problem! We'll report back when the mission is accomplished! I will NEVER accept a DoD that ties our hands with bogus Rules of Engagement that purposely results in ineffectiveness and friendly deaths! If you are unaware of what I mean by "purposely", then you need to find out about the Illuminati and its New World Order and its goal of overthrowing the US Constitution and this government from within!

My mother was completely ignorant of everything important so was not a factor in anything. My father was very concerned about my well-being, but was limited in what he could do to prepare me for war! He had spent his time in the South Pacific fighting Japanese and he gave me advice on what to expect and the general conditions of war. (Hell!) I was best prepared by the nightly news which was intentionally gruesome. I would rather expect that than be surprised on arrival!

This last comment is irrelevant to the questions, but is the most significant factor to come out of that situation. I had met the girl of my dreams on that trip to Europe and was planning to date and marry her if she would have me. Upon finding out I was drafted, I opted out of pursuing her thinking that I couldn't bear it if I was killed or (worse) maimed in that war because of what it would cause for her. I went off to war and she went off to college never to see her again. I survived but because of the circumstances I put her in, she died in a traffic mishap a few years later that I wouldn't discover for another 20 years.

My SS number was very high. I enlisted in the USMC. I would do so again.

I was not drafted. My SS number was very high. I volunteered and would do so again.