Posted on Mar 11, 2016
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
300K
10.5K
1.67K
487
487
0
A169e8e1
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
Avatar feed
Responses: 927
SPC Matt Ovaska
2
2
0
It reads:
Greetings
Your friends and neighbors have selected you to represent them in the armed forces of the United States. Report at the Pan Am building (WPB) at 7:00 AM on Tuesday...

I checked with my friends and neighbors and to my surprise, they denied having anything to do with the selection. How could that be?
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SP5 John Fitzgerald
2
2
0
In our little Indiana factory town, draft dodging was a disgrace to one's entire family. When a draft notice arrived, there was no question that service was an obligation of good citizenship. I went to Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division and continue to believe it was the right thing to do.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Jim Mullins
2
2
0
Was not drafted. Joined the USMC fpr fpur years.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO2 Alfred Campbell
2
2
0
Guess you could call me a draft dodger. I had graduated Navy boot camp and radio school when the notice arrived. My dad was livid. He took photos of me in boot camp and radio school and showed them to the draft board. I enlisted when I was 17, so never got around to enrolling.
(2)
Comment
(0)
PO3 Robert Laity
PO3 Robert Laity
>1 y
You are certainly NOT a draft dodger. Draft dodgers did just that, by any means. You on the other hand did NOT dodge the draft. You volunteered. Oooh Rah!
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CSM Guy R. Niles
2
2
0
VOLAR was in full affect when I registered for the Draft just after turning 18 and as a Freshman at URI (Fall of '73). Still something gnawed away inside and I eventually joined up (after speaking w/ Recruiters of the USAF, USN and USA). Served a bit over 30 (1976-2006). Stance was deeply rooted in Family history and genetics. There has been a Niles in Uniform since shortly after the mid/late 1640's (2nd American generation on, I'm 12th). Parents instilled the "Be, Know, Do"!
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Lee Dutra
2
2
0
Never got a draft notice and didn't wait for one. Found a recruiter and asked where to sign. My parents didn't try to influence my decision. They raised me the way they thought best and recognized there was a man talking to them, not a boy when I told them what I was going to do. I just said they had their war to get through, this was mine and no matter what happened I just wanted them to be proud of me. I could see in their eyes they were. My mom passed away whenb I was halfway through boot camp, but my DAD WAS THERE WHEN I CAME HOME SEVEN YEARS LATER WITH THAT SAME LOOK IN HIS EYES.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Rickey Dolph
2
2
0
too young to get one but my parents were relived that they stopped sending troops to Nam in 73 delayed entry in Nov. of 74 , active duty June 30th 75 did see two tours to Korea , & 3 yrs in Germany
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SP5 Ward Posey
2
2
0
I was flying as a door gunner out of Phu Loi when my mother forwarded to me my draft notice. I laughed and threw it into the rotor wash.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
GySgt Michael Gerdau
2
2
0
Never received a draft notice, I was only 17 years old when I joined.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SCPO Glen Dutcher
2
2
0
I was an E-5 when I got mine.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close