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

Never got a draft notice. I enlisted. RA service number no US. Sorry as an army brat with 18 years of service, that is what I was meant to do. Glad and happy I did

Got my notice in March 1969. First thought was "Better head on down to the recruiting office". Being a totally unknowledgeable boob, I went with the recruiter's suggestion and signed up for something called "Stock Control & Accounting". During BCT was approached by the Army Security Agency recruiter and chose to go that route instead. Started out as a Morse Code Intercept Operator (05H). After 2 1/2 years re-up'd for 4 more as a Cryptanalytic Specialist (98B).

I enlisted, then went home and told my parents I would need to get up early. My Dad a WW-II Glider Pilot just said OK. My Mom kept telling me I should get out and go back to school...that I'd be hurt or killed...that I don't take orders well...She called my brother who was a O-3 having been in the 82nd Abn. Now in reserves. He just said OK. Then went on to tell me that basic would just be a mind game with lots of PT and yelling, do what you are told, when you are told, and do it to the best of your abilities, think through volunteering (make it work for YOU), call and write often. So there I was a 18 year old, ready to take on the big green machine. During my enlistment I learned much about myself, people, and the skills of a soldier. I did eventually go to school; but the Alumni I am most proud of is my DD-214.

I had just returned from bumming around Europe with a friend, both of us expecting to be drafted soon. In 1968 a 19 year old boy did not have to dwell on his future very long before his Draft Board decided for him. Either you were in school with a deferment, married with dependents, or you faced the draft. My draft notice arrived while I was away and when I returned my dad handed it to me, and being the consumate Democrat, said "See, a Republican get elected and you get drafted," as if, somehow, Nixon getting elected and me being drafted were somehow connected. I reported for induction in Feb. 1969, when they were still drafting into the Marines, and after passing my pre induction physical, I was rejected for service. and sent home. I was devastated and had no Plan B. I wangled a second opinion from a contract physician to the entrance and examination station and was marked as Fit For Duty. My second draft notice arrived and I was ready to go. The local Air Force Recruiter called my house and asked if I knew I was on the Hot Sheet for the draft. I told him was aware and wanted to go. He told me he had a recruit who was ready to go, but decided to go into the Army for 3 years , rather than the Air Force for 4 years, and would I consider enlisting. I said of course, and signed the enlistment paperwork. I was supposed to be a clerk typist, but took a by pass test as an Aircraft Structural Repairman, which I did before enlisting. It lead to a 28 year career, which I would not trade for anything.

I was on the road with "Up With People" when my father called telling me I had a draft notice. I rapidly gathered my gear, flew home, where my Dad picked me up at at the airport. We went to a coffee shop near the recruiting station waiting the 0800hrs opening. When we went in, the AIR FORCE recruiter asked when I wanted to go in, I said YESTERDAY! He then asked if I had a draft notice, I answered "Oh no"! I was processed that day, flew to Lackland AFB, not mentioning my deception for seven years (statute of limitations). I found what I had done was legal, but it was way too late by then.
I had been issued (born) at Brooks Army Medical Center so my Father requested a hand receipt to get me off his Army issue records. I retired an E-7 22 years, 7 months, 10 days and 3 hours later.

Ever had bad timing? On June 16, 1970 at 11:05 a.m. I walked into my draft board with the letter from my superior in the State Police. When the clerk asked what I wanted, I handed her the letter and said I wanted my police deferment continued. She said, "Is this an appeal from induction?" "No", I said, "you haven't reached my lottery number yet." She pulled up a paper from her desk and said, "yes we have, I typed yours this morning". I was stunned to read it, and as I lurched toward the door she asked "Don't you want to take it with you?" Let's just say I was impolite as I departed.

Felt like they would never take me as my arm was in a huge cast and had steel rods in both bones. Went for the induction physical and the doc said, I think you'll be fine son as he stamped my paperwork "Accepted". Sure enough, by the time I got to Ft Polk, my arm was out of the cast and rods were out, still frail but, I made it for 30+ years.

I laughed; if there is one thing the government does best, it is to screw things up. I was already processing in transit at Treasure Island for in-country VietNam brown water. The bloody government can't even fight a war that it is willing to win; but, the over paid dumb asses can wrong rout out the paper can't they? I believed in the war when i went; and, I didn't do "it" to be thanked for myservice like I was some sort of linen change maid or bus table service. There were people there that were facing communist aggression and atrocity; sad thing now is that most of them are now dead and I'm sure that they wouldn't necessarily be "thanking us for our service" the way we ran out on them. I went because my Da' also encouraged me to go [Normandy guy] somewhere along the way when I came back he got tarpped in the rich, poor, black, white classs struggle...I hate Nixon thing and it sure wasn't what i expected coming back. I remember him and others telling me how nasty and rotten the hippies were too with their demonstrations and all. Funny thing is that none of them my Da' included never counter demonstrated or carried signs. They just "hated Nixon' that didn't make sense at all. I love my Da' I've forgiven him but I refuse to forget. If I had been spit on I would have known how to handle it; and, I'd be in jail for it. But I wasn't spit on I was "ignored", and how do I handle that???? Now decades later I get a dumb ass "...thank you for your service..." like I cleaned out their shitty toilet in a hotel or changed their linen. How do I handle that???? With a Laugh just like the Draft Board notices; they're dumb asses, and that goes for the 'Normandy crowd' too; at least they had somebody cheering them. I'm a VietNam combat [not era] Veteran something they will NEVER be.

I was half way through my first year ('68) of law school (all 1st year law courses are one school year long) when I was involuntarily inducted and wondered if my anticipated legal career was over before it barely began. Many of my male law school classmates, like myself, were drafted. But UC Hastings College of the Law held my slot open and guaranteed my re-enrollment upon my return. I transferred to the CA National Guard, after 3.6 years of active duty, went back to law school and finished with over 26 years of Infantry, USAR. Hooah!

I was actually happy when I opened it; I volunteered for the draft and told them I wanted to go immediately so I signed a waiver or two and was on my way within 2 weeks.