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

At the time I received my notice, I was 3 weeks into BCT at Ft Ord, California. My thought was something like; "What timing", or 'better late than never".

I was at the MEPPS in Indianapolis; got a call from home that my draft notice had come in the daily mail, and knowing the daily mail schedule it was probably delivered about the same time I was raising my had to enlist in the USAF. I told my wife to take it to the local recruiter and let him handle it. I still chuckle when I think about it.

When I saw the envelope from the Draft Board I didn't open it. I went to the closest Navy recruiter and signed. I was headed for Boot Camp the next morning.

The first one was expected. My number had come up while I was in college so I was deferred until I flunked out of school so I got the notice and dutifully reported taking a 3rd year at the AFES and picking a field I wanted (67N). A second notice came from some foul up while I was in Vietnam so I responded that I refused to go. I guess the APO SF return address and no postage stamp gave it away that I was already in the Army.

Don’t know.

I enlisted at 17.

Why did my mom get my draft notice 6 months after I joined the military. Talk about slow government

I thought that I would be sent to RVN. As life would have it that is where I wound up. I was on the roof of the building where I live, watching Ocean Hill Brownsville burn after Rev. Martin Luther King was assassinated What a backdrop for the notice. I went down to ask my mother had she picked up the mail She said No.. Right then i told her my notice was in the mail. Just as I said, the notice was there. No they did not say anything about the war.

I was in boot camp for The Marines when I received my notice. My Gunny asked if I wanted to go Army but I declined. I was having too much fun already but was also Proud to be a US Marine. Demoed Fi!!

I was already in a few months ready to ship overseas when it arrived. I called the number on the letter and let them know my situation. The nice lady said if I didn't report I would be prosecuted. I was about to be a wise ass and say "Come and get me," but my mother was standing next to me so I said I would take care of it when the time came. Never heard back from them.

I "dodged the draft and Viet Nam" in 1962 by accepting a commission as a 2nd Lt in the Air Force from college AFROTC. Twenty years later I got out (retired) and yes, still went to Viet Nam...and Okinawa and Korea. Guess I showed that draft board.

Lt Cil USAF (Ret) Ed Logan