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

My response was just this Colonel...
I drove down to Phoenix from My little Home town in North Central Arizona and went into each Service's Recruiting Office and interviewed with each Service's Recruiters to see what was available in the way of Firefighting & EMS related Jobs. I was a Volunteer Firefighter EMT in My Home Town and I intended to spend My life in Service in that way to My Community and Nation!

In essence I decided if I had this, that I was "required" to do, I was by God, Going to do it MY WAY! So after evaluating the opportunities available from each of the Services... I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard so I could be a "Life Saver" instead of a "Life Taker".

After boot Camp I spent My first Year loading explosives and munitions on Cargo ships bound for the theatre in South East Asia, after that I was sent to School and was trained as a Shipboard and Crash/ Rescue Firefighter/EMT.

I have no objection to Fighting "FOR MY COUNTRY, IN DEFENSE OF MY COUNTRY" but I believe I'll allow the people in other Countries to fight their own Wars.

The biggest problem that I had with Vietnam was that the politicians wouldn't allow the Military to fight the war and win it, If we're going to involve Ourselves in someone else's War... let the Warfighters call the shots and Fight to Win, If the Politicians want things done their way, then give them an AR-15 and a Bandolier of Ammo and put them in the front line! Other wise they can butt out!

I truly don't recall what My Parents stance was regarding the Vietnam War, we owned a wholesale Food & Beverage distribution business and they were consumed with servicing Our Customers.

Although not male...my birthday was #2 in the pick. I enlisted in the Navy and was one of the first women, other than a Nurse, to arrive at Roosey roads and the Atlantic fleet weapons range. I did my duty and served my country yet not "in country" as so many of my brothers did including my husband.

When I received my draft notice, I chose to enlist, i toss my draft notice in the trash and went to the marine recruiter and joined, i thought if i wanted a chance of surviving, i would take my chances with the marines, after watching the news daily. being the sole survivor of my family name. drafted in Boston.

I threw it in the trash. Several months later I decided I didn't want to be drafted, I wanted a choice......I volunteered (1966) for Comm. Center Spec. AIT, and Jump School.....I learned some things at AIT...and had many "BLASTS" with the 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION (was the NCOIC COMSEC, 82nd ABN. DIV. 1968-1969) . At my current age (72 Y.O.) I am still AATW.

Draft notice! I laughed! I was a draft doger after having enlisted and gone to Thailand during the Vietnam War.

I lied and joined the Army at 16 and had already completed my three year enlistment when I received my draft notice.

I enlisted in 1985
:-)

I got one and actually knew it was coming, since I had quit school. I had to have a long sit-down with my Dad. The Vietnam situation bothered him a lot. We lived on Lake Erie and had relatives in Ontario. Dad assured me that he could get me to Canada. After a long evening, I decided that 2 years was a reasonable cost to stay in the states. I reported, was anointed an 11B, did my training and my time, did my Nam time, and lived happily ever after. It was never a HUGE deal. In ‘67 it was just what happened.

I got the golden draft card ...a very high number and a student deferment ...but didn't matter...I enlisted in the Marine Corps anyway. What was eye opening was sitting in the room with a few dozen others at the St Louis AFEES when a group of SNCO's from the various brances of service stepped into the room and told all those in the room who were 'draftees' to stand up... Then proceeded with a role call and what branch they were being drafted in to. Navy got high fives....Army got that 'OMG' look on their faces...and Marines got that 'oh...I just crapped my pants look.'...
I went to a C130 squadron for a year before going to Okinawa just as Saigon fell.
I did work with draftees though...and I have to say most were great Marines, but I can go on record as saying the worst Marines I ever worked with were draftees.
As far as the politics of Nam...I grew up in the Midwest...with southern Louisiana roots and family. All my family was and is very patriotic and all my relatives were appalled at what was happening on college campus' and the way people were treating military people in general. When I enlisted it caught nobody in my family by surprise. Viet Nam was something I grew up with in school as a side thought. It was part of our "Current Events' each week in Jr High and High School, so maybe it was fatigue or just jaded, but few took it very seriously. And to be honest, my college contacts who were anti-war,burning draft cards and taking part in sit ins...couldn't find the North Pole on a map if they had to, so nobody I knew took them seriously.

I was already enlisted in the USCG, and in boot camp and Cape May if the mists of the distant past do not deceive me. I never actually saw it, my dad took care of it and mentioned it after graduation, since boot camp communications were few and far between.