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

Well, I got mine when I turned 18 during the lottery. #154 so little chance of being selected. Four years later, I was stuck in the same grind and wanted something Different. So in April 75 I enlisted under the delayed enlistment program, went in in September of that year and made A1C out of basic. No regrets of any kind. I believe I was a good strong minded Airman and hoped I provided leadership and comradery during that time. I was a nit picker in basic and as my career went. I did my best while performing my duty and expected nothing less from those I supervised. I had done and did do the same things I asked of them. Figured we were all in it together.

I remember my uncle telling me he found his draft notice on the kitchen table after coming after the bars closed. Greetings. Your friend and neighbors selected you. He went outside at 2:00 am looking for his friends and neighbors. In 1951

I was already in the USAF for almost 2 years, over seas and flying on B52's when my folks sent me my draft notice. First Shirt said he would "Take Care of it"

I laughed until my stomach hurt... I was already in the Corps, Combat veteran, sitting in a hooch overseas.... It had a return address on it, so I wrote them a letter rejecting my notice by saying it did not apply to me... Yehaah! did that raise some eyebrows back home... Dad said he laughed so hard when they sent two deputies to the house to arrest me for draft dodging... He showed them a picture of me in uniform standing next to a sign written in English/Korean "You are in the DMZ." Funny as how those good old boys on that board had never served nor did their kids ever serve in the military.. I still chuckle over that once in a while... John

Sir, I was still in high school, but joined the Army in 1974 and left for boot camp 8 hours after graduation. I was just a young punk kid that didn't know what I was going to do until my JROTC Instructor talked to me about the Army. I talked to my mom and she said she wouldn't sign the paperwork and I replied "You can sign them or I turn 18 in October and I'll sign them myself." So she signed them and I left for boot camp at Fort Knox KY in June 1974. No regrets what so ever. Took that punk kid and made me the man I am today.

Flunked out of college in one year, 1967. Had three quarters with high GPA of 1.7 and low of .7. Bye, bye deferment. Everyone told me to join the Reserves or Guard but I was not interested in a six year deal. So I decided the draft was only two years and I could do that. Became 1A in May, got physical notice in June, draft notice in August and left for Ft Campbell in September. Ft Ord next then Schofield Barracks before entire unit went to VN in Feb or March 1968. Americal Division A/4th/21st.
Put in 21 months by getting a three month early out to return to school. Used GI Bill to get undergrad and MBA.
Even though I was shot in 12/68, the time was worth it. GI Bill was great as is VA comp. And access to the terrific VA hospital in Twin Cities is also great.

Old man and I had the same name, no "Jr." "Sr." or numbers. I'm a SGT, sitting on a mountain top in Vietnam and got a letter from home. Short note from the old man, "This is yours, I thought they were telling me I was no longer re-callable."

Wasn't exactly my draft notice, it was a threat that if I did not appear for immediate induction, because I had not registered with SS (I was 17 yrs and 361 days old when I enlisted), I would, whenever apprehended, be detained for a Federal Court hearing.

Took it to my OIC, who handed me a beer and said "F 'em! What are they gonna do? Take away your birthday, bend your dog-tags and send you to Vietnam?"

Good point. Until about a month later, these two white shirts showed up looking for me, carrying FBI creds.

My feeling was I must be some kind of important person The Government needs me.Iwent around showing a few people My Draft Notice and they all told me I better go down Town to Sign Up.My view of the war was My Country need me, let me sign up,And Do my part, and I wonder what would I be doing.I was thrill and I had the ultimate Job to tell my school and guidance counselor about.I was willing to go right then and there but they told me I needed to Finish the 12 th Grade
And I graduated with 2-3 more credits than I needed,I wanted to make sure I go Drafted.There was nothing after High School around home,This way Iwould see the World

Utter SHOCK, followed by Absolute Fear, followed by "What tha Hell, Let's Kick some A**". After all, I was an Army brat. Grandad was an Army Maj. Dad was an Army First Sargent...

I never received a draft notice. I enlisted in the National Guard about nine months after I became draft eligible and was on extended active duty commissioned after I graduated college. I served a total of 31 years combined Guard, active and Reserve service. I don't regret serving--it helped me achieve things I never could have dreamed of otherwise. And--had I not chosen to do as I did--I would have either enlisted or chosen to be drafted when the time came.