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

June, 1964 found me driving home from Ohio State. Two years of ROTC were mandatory for all male students at the time and I was joyous that I had completed the requirement and sure I would never have to wear a uniform again.

When I arrived in Dayton, my mom met me at the door with a stack of mail. "Open the one on top," she ordered, "I think they're going to draft you." Sure enough, I was invited to take a free physical courtesy of my friends and neighbors.

I went to the phone and soon had the Commandant on the phone, "Is it too late to sign up for advanced ROTC?"

"I'm packing everything up for summer camp," the colonel stated. "Can you get here before two?"

I piled back in my 55 Chevy and headed east. An hour and a half later I stood in front of the man dressed in madras shorts, knit shirt, and Jack Purcell tennis shoes with my right hand in the air. I was back in ROTC for two more years, the unexpected start to a career.

While in Air Force medical tech school my mom said I got this letter; what should she do with it. I had her open it and it was my order to report. I laughed, and told her to do what she wanted with it....even send it back, but I had a laugh.

I was already accepted in Army flight school and Ft. Wolters TX and Ft. Rucker AL. I did not realize what was in store for me when the plane landed in Vietnam. I was sent to I Corp which was the worst area for helicopters; but I was flying UH1B and C gunships so I was a little better off than lift birds. My dad was a tanker at the battle of the bulge in WWII and was not liking the idea of me going infantry or armor. My stance of the war, too youung to know what was going on politically.

Hah! My experience was a bit more startling than one other responder here. My Mom forwarded a letter she had gotten addressed to me. I opened it and there was my notice to report for pre-induction physical. I write back that I would be happy to present myself but would need permission from my CO. They should write to him at “Commanding Officer, Golf Co., 2nd Bn, 4th Marines, 9th MAB, Vietnam”. Yes, I gave the CO’s name but am not putting it here. We were, when I got the notice, somewhere near the Laotian border.

I received my draft notice while I was in Navy boot camp in San Diego. It said that I was to report to Fort Leonard Wood for basic training. I was, to say the least, shocked by this. I took it to the company commander who said that he would take care of it. I, also, thought that it was a little weird since it was addressed to me at "Co. 944 NTC/RTC San Diego".

I was many, many miles from home serving as a 1LT when mine found me in 1965.

After graduating High School mid-year and attending the local community college for a semester -a and failing totally. I just wasn't ready for the level of academics, and self control. Knowing that since I would no longer have a deferment, I chose to enlist in the Army for a logistics field. Father was a Marine in WW2, and told all of us (5 boys) that if any of us enlisted in the Corps, it had better be a remf job or he would kick out butt.. E4 out of AIT, RVN, Germany, 4th ID(E6) and DA decided that they had enough of my MOS - retrained with the local Cavalry Squadron (10th Cav) and became a Scout (11D - later 19D). Cannot say that I regret any of my actions and career, just some of the opportunities that I didn't take. HOOHAH!

My recruiter sent me over to the local draft board to pick up my pre induction physical report . They had a hard time finding my records until they asked a clerk who said she had just finished my draft notice. But since I was enlisting they didn't draft me.

Enlisted 4 years in the U.S. Army Security Agency. I was going to be a spy, so I thought. My MOS was 05Delta20 Radio Direction Finding. Got to the Nam and found that they were over slotted by 75 05D20's. Imagine, the Army making a mistake like that. Anyway they gave me the next best thing 05B20 RTO. Needless to say it was an awesome experience. That spy thing never really worked out.

I never got one. When they started the draft lottery my number was really high. At 26 I decided to enlist because my father and brother had served.