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

Was RA never experienced the Greeting Letter however, one of my brother's received one was shocked with disbelief. He had taken a break from school seventeen days later - drafted.

I got a pretty good chuckle that day in July 1961 because I was undergoing Navy Bootcamp at RTC Great Lakes, IL.

I joined the Navy at 17 on the delayed program to finish school, a month and 4 days later I went to the draft board to sign up. Told them they would never get me they didn't like that. I was ready and willing to go. Still carry my draft card to this day 46 years later.

Never got a draft notice, was in the Navy from 1961 till 67', the last 3 in the reserves. While in the reserves, I was in Collage in Boston. (art school), and of course all my school buddies, with hair down to the floor, and me with me crew cut, singled me out as some kind of a war monger. After graduation, they were getting drafted, left & right, couldn't happen to a better bunch. In 1980 I joined the Mass. Air National Guard, stayed for 16 years, loved it, retired as a Master Sgt., often wonder what became of those guys I went to school with, probably still protesting somewhere. The question about, did my parents have anything to say about me joining the service with a war on the horizon, not much, my Dad retired from the Navy in 1956, 20 years,,, BMC, the Chief drove me to the recruiting office. Proudest day of my life when I made E-7, same as my Dad.

I was enjoying the nice winter weather on the DMZ in Korea when I got my notice to report. I took it to my 1SG, we had a good laugh about it and he gave it to the Company Commander. The commander sent them a letter along with my assignment orders and told them I could not be released from duty to report. About 6 months later, I got a new letter from them classifying me as 4F, unfit for military duty.

Lets see, I was working at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft as a draftsman, and on that fateful day I received the notice that my number was up. I did say some uglies and nasties about the president (Nixon) at the time, not having the balls to sign his name to my notice.
My brother just returned from Viet Nam the previous year, with numerous injuries and PTSD issues. Some of my friends tried to convince me to run to Canada - not a good choice. My step-father (only in name) hoped I would end up with war injuries like my brother. My brother stood by me, advised me on how to do well with the testing, what to forget and to do my best. I ended up doing my PMOS from the entry station until the ETS from active duty. My brother, Bob, and his advise was the best. I wasn't scared during basic, met one of his platoon buddies who received a field commission during rifle training and pushed my body thru the training.
I learned more about people and the country than if I had escaped the draft, and the GI bill was a blessing after my time was finished.

I was already a CPL MP at my first duty station for 9 months. My Dad forwarded the Notice to me and I gave it to my 1SG, he and the Company Commander got a good laugh out of it and the CO attached a. Letter from him back to the Draft Board that stated " I, MAJ William D. XXXXXXX! refuse to release CPL Sullivan, Edward P., Service Number xxx-xx-xxxx, from his current enlistment to comply with your demand that he report for induction into the US Army. He is already in the US Army, and he has been for over one (1) calendar year. Any questions pertaining to this matter need to be directed to the Undersigned." I never heard another word about this.

I was 19 and had just returned to my home in Washington State from bumming around Europe for a couple of months. It was in 1969 and Nixon had just been elected as President. My dad, the consumate Democrat handed me the envelope with my draft notice and said, "See what happens, a Republican gets elected and you immediately get drafted." As if somehow there was a connecition! I reported for induction and was rejected for service. At that time it normally would be a cause for celebration, but I really wanted to serve. I went to a contract physician for AFEES and he marked me fit for duty. I immediately got another draft notice. While waiting for my induction date the local AF recruiter called and asked if I knew I was on the hot sheet for the draft and I said yes. Then he asked if I would consider joining the Air Force. It seems he had a guy all ready to go to basic, and the candidate decided to join the Army for 3 years instead of the AF for 4. I said I'd be happy to join the Air Force. Thus began 28 years of a great career. The first election I voted in was Nixons reelection. I voted for the guy my dad held responsible for my draft notice.

Well, we had just bought my wife a new car, I had a new used car, a new motorcycle, a 39 Aeronca Chief airplane, a home and a great high paying job doing electronic service work primarily for Hollywood celebrities. My first thought was I'm the luckiest guy in town - until now.... Since my income went from a bit over $1600 per month to $87.50 per month overnight and since the 1942 Soldier Sailor Relief Act didn't apply to Vietnam because it wasn't a declared war, I lost it all except the home and my wife - but Hell, surprisingly I survived the war and for that I'm eternally grateful...

I was in Navy boot camp in Orlando, Fl July 1972. I received a letter from my mother stating that I had received my draft notice at home. I went to my Company Commander ,I'll never forget him, MM1 Nix. I told him of my situation and asked him what should I do, he looked at me and said "shit can it dumb ass, your in the Navy now".