Posted on Mar 11, 2016
What were your feelings and thoughts when you first opened your draft notice?
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This question is for our Vietnam era Veterans here on RallyPoint. Share with us what your feelings were when you first received and opened your draft notice.
The Comments Here are Historical and Awesome!
What was your stance on the war? Explain your opinion
Did your parents put ideas into your head about the war that you didn't nessisarly believe in?
The Comments Here are Historical and Awesome!
What was your stance on the war? Explain your opinion
Did your parents put ideas into your head about the war that you didn't nessisarly believe in?
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 917
I received my draft notice around 10 pm, via special delivery mail. My first thought was 0 Shirt!
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I got mine when I was a radio operator on an air team with 3/4 in Nam...sent them a letter advising that I was just too busy on Operation Hickory right then.
At that time my stance was the more of the mfers that we killed the fewer of us died.
My parents suffered through my brother serving with Baker 1/7 in Chosin. He made it out with a few dings. They suffered through me serving in Nam. In both of our times in they never sent us anything about the wars, just take care of yourselves and we love you
At that time my stance was the more of the mfers that we killed the fewer of us died.
My parents suffered through my brother serving with Baker 1/7 in Chosin. He made it out with a few dings. They suffered through me serving in Nam. In both of our times in they never sent us anything about the wars, just take care of yourselves and we love you
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SPC Matt Ovaska
I got there in October. In June, we got a new Top. He asked me when was the last time we had a day off. I replied, "Day off?"
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I was in Vietnam when I got my draft notice . . . so I didn't care one little bit! Although, there was no question where I would have ended up, anyway.
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I received my draft notice in May of 1970; My first response was "Why didn't the President sign his name?", my second response was to the jerk my mother married who told me "I hope you get a bullet". after all that nonsense, my older brother who served in Viet Nam during 1967-1969 and I sat down and discussed stuff like tests, what to expect in BTC and how to make the best of it. He also told me if I had orders to go to Nam, he would go there in my place (we used to fight like cats and dogs when I was younger - surprised the hell out of me).
I brought my squad of inductees from the Meriden Train station down to the induction center in New Haven, and then took the battery of tests (also worked in my future MOS making duplicates of everyone's records). We were told that the marines didn't need any of us, so down to Ft. Dix for more testing and exposure to basic rules, etc. BTW, they pulled me out of rank identification class and had me work in the Company Office - I kinda needed that class that day - called my Captain "Sarge", which didn't help for the next week or so.
Since I could type more than 25 wpm, my fate was sealed well behind any lines of fighting. After basic I ended up in a Personnel Company (one of 2 draftees that never saw college) and worked on helping guys coming in on base. I worked at my MOS from day one to the day I left, not a bad gig.
I brought my squad of inductees from the Meriden Train station down to the induction center in New Haven, and then took the battery of tests (also worked in my future MOS making duplicates of everyone's records). We were told that the marines didn't need any of us, so down to Ft. Dix for more testing and exposure to basic rules, etc. BTW, they pulled me out of rank identification class and had me work in the Company Office - I kinda needed that class that day - called my Captain "Sarge", which didn't help for the next week or so.
Since I could type more than 25 wpm, my fate was sealed well behind any lines of fighting. After basic I ended up in a Personnel Company (one of 2 draftees that never saw college) and worked on helping guys coming in on base. I worked at my MOS from day one to the day I left, not a bad gig.
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In early 1965 I left school and my 2S status changed to 1A. I went to the Draft Board in Frederick, MD, and asked when I'd be notified; the answer was two weeks. I walked from the Draft Office to the Air Force Recruiter's office and said "Here I am". I held up my hand on 23 February, 1965, at Fort Holabird, MD, and took the never ending oath of allegiance to the United States. I retired in January, 1992.
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1. I got mine while I was in Basic Training at Ft. Dix in 1966. I went to see the 1st Sgt and asked him what to do with it. I had just turned 18, and at that age, I thought it was a sacred official government document. He said something like "let me take care of this for you", and threw it in the trash basket. As a welcome to the army, it was my first realization that all parts of the gub'mint may not know what the rest is doing.
2. I joined at 17 because I think that the country was much more patriotic than it is now. Currently, self-serving politicians, self-important children, and self-deluded people who think that feelings are more important than solutions, have wasted our once robust nation. I sort of followed the military industrial complex's opinion that war was a business - and business was good. Hated not even having a change of clothes for weeks at a time, because I had to carry a basic shitload of BA4386s in the field for my PRC77. Instead, I carried a sewing kit. Today's pampered libs would probably have a nervous breakdown.
3. My parents said that I was an adult at 18 - so get out. Uncle Sam needed me. OK, I didn't necessarily believe that, but I was glad to go.
2. I joined at 17 because I think that the country was much more patriotic than it is now. Currently, self-serving politicians, self-important children, and self-deluded people who think that feelings are more important than solutions, have wasted our once robust nation. I sort of followed the military industrial complex's opinion that war was a business - and business was good. Hated not even having a change of clothes for weeks at a time, because I had to carry a basic shitload of BA4386s in the field for my PRC77. Instead, I carried a sewing kit. Today's pampered libs would probably have a nervous breakdown.
3. My parents said that I was an adult at 18 - so get out. Uncle Sam needed me. OK, I didn't necessarily believe that, but I was glad to go.
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As a nurse, the question of draft had been resolved by Congress in March before I graduated in May, but I was already in contact with a recruiter & planning to enlist.
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Got my card, even had a lottery number; 326, but never won the lottery. It was too near the end of the war; guess Uncle Sam didn't need me. Enlisted in the Army few years later.
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Joined the Army June 8 1953 and spent 2 yrs 11 mts and 17 days active and went into the ER for a year and then joined the AF in 58. Got my first draft notice during basic in Jul. or Aug 53. Got a letter from the Army in 58 stating that if I didn't start attending Army drill that they were going to draft me. Still waiting. Retired AF in 77.
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I hauled ass down to the navy recruiter, showed him the notice, and he worked some magic and got me defered from the draft and enlisted in the navy. (1965) 4 years later, reenlisted in the navy, went in country VN for a year (cam ranh bay) from then on I just stayed in the navy, retired as scpo with 21 yrs. don't regret a minute of it.
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