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

Didn't get one. Me and Joey next door had #s 7 and 40 in the draft. We went down and enlisted.

I graduated high school in '82, making me too young for the draft, but we were required to register. I took care of that literally on my 18th birthday. A few months later I enlisted under DEP, and by FEB 83 I was practicing push-ups in Basic.

CUT TO: four years later, a buck sergeant out on terminal leave, enrolled at Washington State, serving in the Guard as an infantry squad leader, and living in a dorm (basically a barracks for indulged children). I took out a student loan to tide me over until my ed benefits started to flow, and what did I get in the mail?

A notice informing me that I was violating the law by not registering for the draft.

I didn't get a draft notice I signed up with the Air Force voluntarily. I wasn't thrilled about the war but I still felt it was the right thing to do.

"It figures!" I had just returned to College after taking a year off. I had a nice place to live, a part time job on the campus, and finally understanding Calculus.

My stance on the war - not strongly opposed but not eager to go either. The casualty list published each day would often have one or two names of friends and acquaintance from High School who were a few years ahead of me. Dodging the draft was never considered - I was a military brat growing up and I knew it was my duty to serve.

At the time I got my draft notice I thought if I could join the Coast Guard I might get a stateside shore station close to a College where I could finish my degree and military service obligation at the same time. Alas, the Coast Guard already had filled their quota. The Navy was my only remaining choice (didn't consider the US Air Force, Army, nor Marines).

I enlisted in the Navy in May 1971 and delayed entry until October 1971 so I could enjoy the summer. After my four year hitch I returned to college and graduated in 3 years with a BS in Meteorology. Being a Vietnam Era vet, I got preference for hiring with the US Civil Service. I was employed by the National Weather Service for 37 years.

I never actually saw mine. It arrived the day after I left for basic.

I got a big laugh. Was already enlisted and through boot camp.

WTF! I thought. Then I thought that the army is playing with me as I had been a reserve unit for almost three years at that time.

I thought that I had a four year deferment but I only a two year deferment. I had flunked out of one school and had got into another tech school thinking I would finish there and then go back to the original school and get my associate degree, and then go on to a four year school. I knew that I had a heart murmur ( still have it). I called the draft board and the lady told me that I only had a two year deferment. I was less than completing the quarter and I asked her for an extension until the new year. She said no and I was drafted on December 6, 1966. When I took my draft physical, I told the doctor that I had a heart murmur and he listened to my heart and said, "yes, you do. 1A". :-)

I was at NTC Great Lakes for boot camp when I received mine

My brother was in Naval Air Reserves & wanted me to join so I could stay out of Vietnam. Did the application & took the tests. A few weeks later was told by Navy I did not score high enough to qualify for the Navy Reserves. Got my draft notice shortly after that (Sept. 1966) & since my uncle had been a B-17 & B-29 pilot (lost en route to Tokyo from Iwo Jima) my family were not overly concerned. I looked on it as an adventure & planned to make the most out of it. Scored well on tests & went to Engineer OCS & commissioned in Aug. 67. Went to Vietnam in Aug. 68 & was in combat 3 weeks later. I learned how much I didn't know but quickly got up to speed. Returned to Travis AFB & my active duty was finished. My brother wanted me to wear my uniform & meet his CO at the naval air station & I agreed to go. His CO tried to get me to join the Seabees (as a Lieutenant) & said because I was commissioned as an army engineer I was fully qualified. I told him I would pass since I had been told I wasn't good enough to join as an enlisted man. Found out later that senior NCO's were taking bribes so men could get into their reserve unit & avoid the draft. The lottery went into effect soon after & my number was 11. I was going no matter what. At 19 I was not informed enough about Vietnam as I was more concerned with chasing skirts & having a good time. Parents did not want me to be in danger but would not have supported me running to Canada. They felt, as did I, that it was my obligation to our country. Being in the engineers & being able to help the local populace with civic improvements such as building bridges, roads, markets, removing minefields, etc. helped to color my opinion. Fighting as infantry & seeing the incredible waste of men & poor planning by senior staff quickly showed the absurdity of the war.