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

I had to read it a couple of times. I didn't really believe it would happen to me.

Panic! I had tried to join the NAVY 3 times, but the recruiters never called me up. After I got my draft notice, I called them and Pleaded with them to take me into the NAVY and they agreed. I went in the next day or two. About the same time, A high school friend who got drafted into the Army was on the bus to go to Detroit for the Army, and they called out my name. He said 'that guy just joined the Navy" ! I spent 4 years in the NAVY (68-72) and leaned a lot, and grew personally from my experience. They wanted me to re-enlist, but I declined. I was a photographer.
My Older brother Robert K., did a tour in Vietnam, field promoted to an officer, and was awarded a Purple Heart. He's on full disability, and unfortunately, he now has Parkinson's.

When I returned from combat during the Korean War in January 1952 I had recently turned 19 and was honorably discharged. I received a letter from the local Draft Board threatening me with jail if I didn't register within 10 days. I received the letter 2 days after the deadline. My draft classification was 5A. I still have the Draft Card.

I thought that my Dads way to get read of me so I said so let it be

Draft # 330, just one more lottery that I was happy to have never played (received # while in basic and was "informed" by DI I couldn't back out after volunteering for non-draft USAF).

Never received notice, joined with two friends. I was in a Hawk missile battery and they all went to Nam except for me, was assigned to PMO. When I received my good conduct ribbon my first Sgt said I have good news and bad news which do you want first, he told me I had been awarded my good conduct medal then came the bad news, I had received my orders to Nam he then told me if I did not want to go he would speak to Gen Marion Carl because I was sole surviving son. He told me to think about it and let him know. The next morning when I reported for work I told the First Sgt I would go to VietNam.

I quit high school and joined with my twin brother COL Mikel J. Burroughs. My twin brother and I would have avoided Nam except he screwed up one more time so they shipped him to Vietnam at 17. After incoming the first night he told them he was 17 so they ship him to Okinawa. I knew he was going back at 18 so if he were going I was going. I had just over a year in and i reenlisted to go to Nam. The retention NCO thought I was certifiable and refused to do the paperwork for a week!

My lottery number was 261 and I joined
June 1, 1972 active duty but I had delayed enlistment May 5, 1972

I'd already enlisted. Funny thing, my birthday was so far down the list that I never would have been drafted if I'd stayed around to see what happened. . . .

My stance on the war. Young kid that had no idea. Take care of each other. Pouring down rain with the 101st in I Corp. I stopped the patrol and had a thought. How in the F did I end up here. There is people in the bush that want to kill me. Thought about my friends back home with high draft numbers and how lucky they were.

I lied to my dad the night before I went and told him I was going to Korea. He took me to a local bar and got the truth out of me. Offered me money to go to Canada. Many of my friends were killed or wounded at this point of the war. Western Pa. has a lot of Vietnam Veterans. I couldn't accept his offer.