Posted on Mar 11, 2016
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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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?
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 927
CPT Jay Ward
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A story not about me but fellow ROTC cadet, who was also Frat Rat. His frat buddies had been giving him grief every drill day, when we had to wear our uniforms all day. The day after the lottery drawing, some of them were saying "Oh my God, what am I going to do, I have a low number?" Response from my fellow cadet: "You are going to call me SIR"
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CPT Jay Ward
CPT Jay Ward
>1 y
I had already joined ROTC when the draft lottery occurred. My birthday came up #5 on the hit parade. Any doubts I had about joining ROTC evaporated. Not going was not in my heritage anyway. My father was a retired and MSGT and my step father was a PFC in WW2.
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MAJ Paul Willis
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The year the lottery began my birthday was the first date pulled. I was 16. When my year came my birthday was 352. I enlisted 2 years later.
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MSG William Weatherell
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Was attending 12 mile Hign aka MCCC Macomb County Community College in Warren Michigan when I dropped a class because juggling of School, full time job, homework, girlfriend and sleep something had to give. Working 2nd shift making flat pieces of metal into car parts and getting off at 11pm sleep was often in the college parking lot just before class. Have to say it didn't take the college to report me and the govt in a couple of weeks turned my student 2 S deferment to a 1A ready for the draft. My 156 lottery number was hit as they still drafted up thru 180-190 that year (Apr71) Basic training at Ft Knox met the 82nd Abn Recruiter and ended up a Cav Scout to a unit that was standing down Vietnam. Enjoyed my time at Bragg and when my girlfriend got with child I reenlisted and then again and again till I had 22 years active promoted to E-8 MSG with 14 yrs on Airborne status I retired in NC and now live in the Smokey Mountains in western NC. My duffel bag got too heavy to carry back to Michigan,
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SFC Ken Dollinger
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I immediately thought I should have used that 2S deferment to study and actually attend class instead of partying and chasing coeds. Slow learner...
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SFC Ken Dollinger
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First thought; "Damn, I should have used that 2S student deferment to attend class & study instead of partying & chasing coeds"
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CPT George Langley
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Interesting question, but I didn't even think about it. I found out that my draft number was 15 and I rushed straight to the nearest Army recruiter to get a good job. Probably never got a draft letter because I beat them to the punch.
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MSG Chuck Pewsey
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I never got a draft notice per se. I was working in Saint Paul and my ND draft board sent me a nice letter that I could get my physical there. I had already scheduled my enlistment physical - my recruiter said if I got the notice he would put me in a delayed enlistment (or maybe it was an advanced enlistment - it was 50 years ago.)
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CW3 Steven Hill
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Never got one I enlisted. Took my tests and was offered OCS or Flight School. Wasn't a hard choice.
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SFC George Gutzmer
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When I received my draft notice I was married with a baby on the way and worked for Lockheed building parts of the C-5 what a wondrous bird, but In the end I was in Vietnam I did my duty !!!! The rest doesn't matter How would folks feel if everyone dodged responsibility after 911 besides the domino effect turned out to be real my beef is now we play friends with them and there still Communist
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CPO Paul Klein
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I was in Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes when I received my draft notice. I gave it to my company Commander, never heard another thing about it. I would not have enlisted if I was against the war. My parents taught me to think for myself.
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