Posted on Jul 19, 2018
Should We Be Upset At Those Who “Dodged The Draft”?
250K
6.15K
2.36K
646
646
0
I’ve seen a number of posts elsewhere provocatively calling President Trump a “draft dodger” for utilizing three educational deferments and one medical exclusion during Vietnam. I know this can be a sensitive issue for many of us who have served. Many of my military friends seem to want to pile on, and comment with disdain over his actions, and this issue. Some of this is just politics, for others it’s more personal.
I’d like to present a position here that may be unpopular with some. As a freedom loving American who voluntarily served in the US Army and Michigan National Guard for 22 years, including a tour in Iraq (2004-2005), I am thankful that I’ve never had to contend with an active draft. Most of us here have served in the military. Most of us served voluntarily; some were forced to “serve”. I’ve heard some who were conscripted say they are thankful they ended up in the military, or that they were thinking about volunteering anyway. I’ve also heard some say it was the worst thing that’s ever happened to them. There are still others who can’t comment because they didn’t make it back alive.
Most of us who joined the military will tell you they served to protect the freedom that is America, and we DO enjoy a great many freedoms that people in other countries do not. Now for the controversy. Can we include a draft as one of those freedoms? I contend we cannot. I’ve heard arguments for the utility, and necessity of a draft to fight our wars. But what is a draft when we REALLY take time to consider its nature. I’d like to place two definitions below to set the premise that guides my thinking on this issue. (I always use Merriam Webster for consistency’s sake.)
Servitude: “a condition in which one lacks liberty especially to determine one's course of action or way of life.”
Slavery: “a person held in servitude as the chattel of another
: one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence“
Given these two definitions, it’s hard to argue that a draft doesn’t, at best fit the first definition, and at worst the second. When confronted with being drafted, we are given a “choice” either go to war, put your life in danger and do what you’re told, or go to jail. It’s a false choice, because either way you lose the choice to determine your life’s course of action, or you become a slave to the prison system. When I’ve made this argument, the replies, and questions seem to indicate that it’s ok to draft people for a host of reasons, and I have a host of reasons in disagreement.
“It’s a price we have to pay to live in a free country.”
Are we really free if our government can place us into servitude, or slavery without due process?
“Other countries do it.”
We’re not other countries. We’re America, and we abolished servitude, and slavery over 150 years ago. Why would we want to resurrect slavery to fight wars?
“How can we count on volunteers to enlist in great enough numbers to fight our wars?”
How about we offer commensurate pay and benefits that will draw enough citizens to volunteer? If that doesn’t work, perhaps our government should re-think the necessity of that particular engagement.
“What if we’re invaded or we’re needed to fight a great injustice somewhere else?”
If we’re invaded, one suspects there’ll be no shortage of volunteers, civilian, or military. If the cause is just, and the danger real, America has never had a shortage of volunteers.
“Don’t you find it dishonest to use deferrals, or medical exemptions to avoid the draft when others didn’t do so?”
Those deferrals, and exemptions were legal, weren’t they? Would you call taking your mortgage interest deduction, or other legal deductions to lower your tax liability as dishonest?
All of these questions, and answers, are ancillary though, because these questions ALL avoid, bypass, or totally ignore the basic premise that a draft is based upon involuntary servitude at best, and slavery at worst. So, when someone gets all up in arms about President Trump, or anybody else “dodging the draft” by taking legal deferrals, I say, “I don’t blame them”. I tell them I didn’t blame President Clinton for avoiding the draft, and I don’t blame President Trump either. My support of President Clinton in this regard back in the 1990’s certainly caused some consternation among my Republican friends. It’s the price one pays for being philosophically honest, and consistent. Some have asked, about those who fled the country to Canada to avoid the draft, while others went along with it and were deployed to Vietnam. My answer is that I didn’t blame black slaves from fleeing slavery to Canada in the 19th century nor do I blame anybody else for fleeing to Canada to escape our slavery of the Vietnam era.
I understand that the military isn’t for everybody, and we don’t want just anybody fighting next to us. I want people fighting next to me who volunteered. Someone who has that special love of country, of service, and of unit that promotes an effective force.
In summary, I start from the basic premise that a draft is involuntary servitude/slavery, and therefore I can’t blame anybody for avoiding such bonds, either within the system of deferments, and exemptions, or outside the system by fleeing the country. America is a great country because we did away with things like slavery and spearheaded the concept of economic and individual liberty. These concepts led to the greatest worldwide advancements of production, technology and efficiency ever known previous to the founding of our great nation.
I’m sincerely interested in your thoughts, comments, or questions on this issue.
I’d like to present a position here that may be unpopular with some. As a freedom loving American who voluntarily served in the US Army and Michigan National Guard for 22 years, including a tour in Iraq (2004-2005), I am thankful that I’ve never had to contend with an active draft. Most of us here have served in the military. Most of us served voluntarily; some were forced to “serve”. I’ve heard some who were conscripted say they are thankful they ended up in the military, or that they were thinking about volunteering anyway. I’ve also heard some say it was the worst thing that’s ever happened to them. There are still others who can’t comment because they didn’t make it back alive.
Most of us who joined the military will tell you they served to protect the freedom that is America, and we DO enjoy a great many freedoms that people in other countries do not. Now for the controversy. Can we include a draft as one of those freedoms? I contend we cannot. I’ve heard arguments for the utility, and necessity of a draft to fight our wars. But what is a draft when we REALLY take time to consider its nature. I’d like to place two definitions below to set the premise that guides my thinking on this issue. (I always use Merriam Webster for consistency’s sake.)
Servitude: “a condition in which one lacks liberty especially to determine one's course of action or way of life.”
Slavery: “a person held in servitude as the chattel of another
: one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence“
Given these two definitions, it’s hard to argue that a draft doesn’t, at best fit the first definition, and at worst the second. When confronted with being drafted, we are given a “choice” either go to war, put your life in danger and do what you’re told, or go to jail. It’s a false choice, because either way you lose the choice to determine your life’s course of action, or you become a slave to the prison system. When I’ve made this argument, the replies, and questions seem to indicate that it’s ok to draft people for a host of reasons, and I have a host of reasons in disagreement.
“It’s a price we have to pay to live in a free country.”
Are we really free if our government can place us into servitude, or slavery without due process?
“Other countries do it.”
We’re not other countries. We’re America, and we abolished servitude, and slavery over 150 years ago. Why would we want to resurrect slavery to fight wars?
“How can we count on volunteers to enlist in great enough numbers to fight our wars?”
How about we offer commensurate pay and benefits that will draw enough citizens to volunteer? If that doesn’t work, perhaps our government should re-think the necessity of that particular engagement.
“What if we’re invaded or we’re needed to fight a great injustice somewhere else?”
If we’re invaded, one suspects there’ll be no shortage of volunteers, civilian, or military. If the cause is just, and the danger real, America has never had a shortage of volunteers.
“Don’t you find it dishonest to use deferrals, or medical exemptions to avoid the draft when others didn’t do so?”
Those deferrals, and exemptions were legal, weren’t they? Would you call taking your mortgage interest deduction, or other legal deductions to lower your tax liability as dishonest?
All of these questions, and answers, are ancillary though, because these questions ALL avoid, bypass, or totally ignore the basic premise that a draft is based upon involuntary servitude at best, and slavery at worst. So, when someone gets all up in arms about President Trump, or anybody else “dodging the draft” by taking legal deferrals, I say, “I don’t blame them”. I tell them I didn’t blame President Clinton for avoiding the draft, and I don’t blame President Trump either. My support of President Clinton in this regard back in the 1990’s certainly caused some consternation among my Republican friends. It’s the price one pays for being philosophically honest, and consistent. Some have asked, about those who fled the country to Canada to avoid the draft, while others went along with it and were deployed to Vietnam. My answer is that I didn’t blame black slaves from fleeing slavery to Canada in the 19th century nor do I blame anybody else for fleeing to Canada to escape our slavery of the Vietnam era.
I understand that the military isn’t for everybody, and we don’t want just anybody fighting next to us. I want people fighting next to me who volunteered. Someone who has that special love of country, of service, and of unit that promotes an effective force.
In summary, I start from the basic premise that a draft is involuntary servitude/slavery, and therefore I can’t blame anybody for avoiding such bonds, either within the system of deferments, and exemptions, or outside the system by fleeing the country. America is a great country because we did away with things like slavery and spearheaded the concept of economic and individual liberty. These concepts led to the greatest worldwide advancements of production, technology and efficiency ever known previous to the founding of our great nation.
I’m sincerely interested in your thoughts, comments, or questions on this issue.
Vietnam War
Vietnam
Donald Trump
Military service
Service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 705
0
0
0
SSG Gerhard S. First: I came on a active duty just after Vietnam! That said I wish your post had included a polling question. I am interested in data combined with narrative.
Second: I agree with Sgt (Join to see) "...I want men and women serving that are joining of their own free will...." which goes along with the several points that COL Jon Lopey made in his narrative.
Third: As Cpl Bernard Bates points out "...The GI,s got blamed for the war..."; but, more than 40 years after Vietnam concluded, the nation is learning to separate the solider from the policy maker. Today people are learning that those heroes (men and women from Vietnam) have since lead very honorable lives, despite modern media portals. Our nation is maturing and learning to separate the “warrior” from the “warrior policy maker.”
Never forget that nearly all real warriors would rather have peace, but every warrior worth their weight in gold if they are asked to go to war, wants to go to win, win swiftly and decisively and to leave a former war zone as quickly as possible and leave it returned to peace and prosperity in the aftermath. Our “Volunteer Forces” of active duty and guard/reserve warriors today are (< 1%) of the nation that at any given time are asked to 'be prepared' to lay down their lives for the altruistic goal of – Freedom and a Lasting Peace!
America has "appeared" to have grown-up understanding that the everyday individual service member today is in the military as a volunteer who serves their country and is not responsible for the making of national policy. They enter for many reasons, but they serve a nation whose ideal is to have “…a more perfect union…” That is why I have included a summary table of recent data regarding how people, including vets, view the Vietnam war via the lens of time. The data in the visuals provided in this response post, for those that want to know, have been compiled and cross-referenced with DMDC, US Census, GAO, VHA and other key data repositories for such data.
We can NEVER forget men like pfc-joe-fugo and SP5 Gary Brown who have pointed out things we have to face in terms of how unfair things were at that point in history on many levels. Men, like pfc-joe-fugo, were handed a raw deal in terms of their treatment upon their return. Because I came on active duty just after Vietnam I viewed up close through their eyes and working with some that were on AD at the time their issues. This is also why they require a voice - still today. That voice may still be angry, resentful and distrusting on many levels, but such men and women and others like them answered a call to duty from their hearts, or at least I would like to believe so. I am not trying to be patronizing toward pfc-joe-fugo, in fact, many like them still believe their voice has not been heard. We have to, always, Thank men like pfc-joe-fugo and others for their service! Because > 95% served with honor, and knowing nothing of pfc-joe-fugo's service in a very unpopular war, letting them know the words thanking them for their service are heart-felt is good for their mental and physical health, especially knowing they are now > 65-yo. Just acknowledging how they fell, regardless if we agree with their assessment of not, is a huge part of improving their social connectedness, such as RP attempts to do, can lead to improving their overall health. We have to work to make those who feel short changed or forgotten in every community know this or risk their humanity.
Those on RP should know that now the total number of veterans from Vietnam are second only to the total number of combined GWoT veterans combined since 1990. We cannot forget any veteran.
Finally, Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth is correct when he states "...In a time of war or national crisis we as a nation do not have the luxury to rely on volunteers to serve and man the rank and file. It is necessary and in the best interest of the nation to instill a draft 'if and only if' we are at war and cannot fill the ranks...."; and, would appear to be consistent with language of "We the people..." to "...provide for the common defense..." to "...secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity... in order to form a more perfect union...." The "...common defense..." language is key!
Just saying......
Second: I agree with Sgt (Join to see) "...I want men and women serving that are joining of their own free will...." which goes along with the several points that COL Jon Lopey made in his narrative.
Third: As Cpl Bernard Bates points out "...The GI,s got blamed for the war..."; but, more than 40 years after Vietnam concluded, the nation is learning to separate the solider from the policy maker. Today people are learning that those heroes (men and women from Vietnam) have since lead very honorable lives, despite modern media portals. Our nation is maturing and learning to separate the “warrior” from the “warrior policy maker.”
Never forget that nearly all real warriors would rather have peace, but every warrior worth their weight in gold if they are asked to go to war, wants to go to win, win swiftly and decisively and to leave a former war zone as quickly as possible and leave it returned to peace and prosperity in the aftermath. Our “Volunteer Forces” of active duty and guard/reserve warriors today are (< 1%) of the nation that at any given time are asked to 'be prepared' to lay down their lives for the altruistic goal of – Freedom and a Lasting Peace!
America has "appeared" to have grown-up understanding that the everyday individual service member today is in the military as a volunteer who serves their country and is not responsible for the making of national policy. They enter for many reasons, but they serve a nation whose ideal is to have “…a more perfect union…” That is why I have included a summary table of recent data regarding how people, including vets, view the Vietnam war via the lens of time. The data in the visuals provided in this response post, for those that want to know, have been compiled and cross-referenced with DMDC, US Census, GAO, VHA and other key data repositories for such data.
We can NEVER forget men like pfc-joe-fugo and SP5 Gary Brown who have pointed out things we have to face in terms of how unfair things were at that point in history on many levels. Men, like pfc-joe-fugo, were handed a raw deal in terms of their treatment upon their return. Because I came on active duty just after Vietnam I viewed up close through their eyes and working with some that were on AD at the time their issues. This is also why they require a voice - still today. That voice may still be angry, resentful and distrusting on many levels, but such men and women and others like them answered a call to duty from their hearts, or at least I would like to believe so. I am not trying to be patronizing toward pfc-joe-fugo, in fact, many like them still believe their voice has not been heard. We have to, always, Thank men like pfc-joe-fugo and others for their service! Because > 95% served with honor, and knowing nothing of pfc-joe-fugo's service in a very unpopular war, letting them know the words thanking them for their service are heart-felt is good for their mental and physical health, especially knowing they are now > 65-yo. Just acknowledging how they fell, regardless if we agree with their assessment of not, is a huge part of improving their social connectedness, such as RP attempts to do, can lead to improving their overall health. We have to work to make those who feel short changed or forgotten in every community know this or risk their humanity.
Those on RP should know that now the total number of veterans from Vietnam are second only to the total number of combined GWoT veterans combined since 1990. We cannot forget any veteran.
Finally, Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth is correct when he states "...In a time of war or national crisis we as a nation do not have the luxury to rely on volunteers to serve and man the rank and file. It is necessary and in the best interest of the nation to instill a draft 'if and only if' we are at war and cannot fill the ranks...."; and, would appear to be consistent with language of "We the people..." to "...provide for the common defense..." to "...secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity... in order to form a more perfect union...." The "...common defense..." language is key!
Just saying......
(0)
(0)
SPC John Tacetta
I will point out that barring a draft, the soldiers today may actually be enabling policy rather than being divorced from it. Their participation implies an acceptance of policy rather than a rejection of that policy by electing not to serve. If no one signed up there could be no war. All too often, however, the decision to serve has an economic basis. Those who serve and become disillusioned with policy are now being subjected to a stealth draft in the form of 'Stop Loss" as they approach their ETS. How will you emancipate them? Do you think desertion is a viable option?
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I am 70 years old. I was draft age during the active draft and during the Viet Nam war. I served in RVN during that war for 18 months. I, like many others, suffered the social consequences of my service and suffer the mental and medical consequences to this day. Serving your country is always a choice. A person can choose to serve when the country calls or not serve. Men of conviction sometimes choose not to serve like Mohammed Ali. Those people should be revered for the courage of their convictions. Some folks are cowards and in their fear, run and hide. Let them go to live in their shame. My highest regards and respect go to those who answered their country's call and, though scared or reluctant, did their duty. A draft is an almost impossibly difficult thing to live under, especially when it is inequitable, as in the last draft. Personally, I think every citizen should be required to serve the country for a specified duration at some activity that benefits the nation, not necessarily the military.
(0)
(0)
CPO Nate S.
SPC Chuck Daly Your response to the original post was 6 months ago (~ Jan 2020). So, I don't if you are aware of the Mar 2020 - Inspired to Serve Report that came out. I have provided the link below:
https://inspire2serve.gov/sites/default/files/final-report/Final%20Report.pdf
I could not agree more that service to others would be a huge benefit to the nation. Perhaps if more people served others our current national discourse would be very different.
https://inspire2serve.gov/sites/default/files/final-report/Final%20Report.pdf
I could not agree more that service to others would be a huge benefit to the nation. Perhaps if more people served others our current national discourse would be very different.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
There was also a third condition if my memory serves me right. I wasn’t drafted I enlisted before I was drafted, I had a high draft number. But as I was saying I think the third option was to join in a civil service program that the draft board could assign you to. I could be wrong though.
My opinion on the matter was and is if you received deferments that was fine. But if you ran away to Canada or to Mexico or England ( like a President did) then indeed you did dodge the draft and you were wrong and you should have spent time in jail. You broke the law. Carter pardoning the “draft dodgers was wrong as well”
My opinion on the matter was and is if you received deferments that was fine. But if you ran away to Canada or to Mexico or England ( like a President did) then indeed you did dodge the draft and you were wrong and you should have spent time in jail. You broke the law. Carter pardoning the “draft dodgers was wrong as well”
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
NOPE. Got better things to think about than what Others don't want to do.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Would you want to serve next to an adamant anti-war, anti-violence member forced to serve on patrol and depend on them to put those sentiments aside under fire ? After watching a few guys when under fire cower and hide, not firing and contributing to the effort. It would have been better they hadn't been there and a fighter had been instead. So them avoiding service at least for combat arms was probably a positive. I doubt a real serving objector would have been in a combat role, but could in the least have served in support areas.
(0)
(0)
Cpl Bernard Bates
I don't care if your butt is being a target for the VC. It doesn't make any difference if you were a draftee or and enlistee, Self preservation takes over. I was with the 205th Ord Plt. (Ammo) in Vietnam. Our Ammo dump at QuiNhon was attack in early 1966. A draftee PFC. was a guard in the ammo dump the night of the VC, attack came. When the ammo started to explode, he jumped in a small ditch used a comb he carried and started digging up mud to cover himself. That saved his life. The Sgt. of the Guard hid while the attack was going on. A sp/4 took over and started firing back at the attackers. The Sgt. got busted to Cpl. and the SP/4 got promoted to Sgt. Draftee or enlisted doesn't make any difference its up to the individual as to what they do. Semper Fi.
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
I recall the downright desperation of fellow college students at CMU/ formerly Carnegie Tech, Pittsburgh, Pa. I was in Fine Arts but the mostly Engineering, male students were polarized by the realization they would be drafted. Student deferments, after graduation, meant a trip to Brooks Brothers & being fitted for their US Infantry Officer's uniforms...& a probable one way ticket to the garden spot of S.E. Asia~Vietnam. It was a question of honor to most ; but some were unable to fulfill that most sacred of obligations. They took the "thumps" and faced their fate. Others ran, scared & far. Had I been a man, numbered in the draft & my number came up, I probably would have just gone. It was how I was brought up. I can't imagine the shame of being branded a coward & worse...one who disavows, denies the "beloved country, the USA". As time passed there were pardons & that mercy was commendable but undeniable was the angst~all around~! Lives, altered, eradicated~even, thus changed utterly & forever. That complicated war forbidden the honor of being called a war~ was a Nam Widowmaker. I will always respect John Kerry for his resistance ~yet service w/ honor.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Before joining the Army, I worked as an auto-body painter at the Fisher Body Plant (GM) in Lansing, MI.. I was also heavily into the Motorcycles and the lifestyle. The Fisher Body Plant had a huge lay-off and after 8 months of not working, I was out of unemployment, sub-pay and any other means of earning money. Also, my wife was very pregnant and I had no insurance. So, I did the only thing I could to support my family and stay legal; I joined the Army. If I had not joined, I would have become an outlaw biker for sure....
I volunteered for the Army in 1961 when the draft was still in effect. Personally, I think the Draft is good because it forces kids out of their normally "cushy" environment and requires them to do things they never thought they could possibly do, and in general makes them grow up. After Basic, I volunteered for Airborne while in MP School and ended up at Ft Campbell, KY. in the 101st Airborne MP Detachment. I had to leave the Detachment when I broke another MP's Jaw and put him in the ICU for having an affair with my now ex-wife. I was reassigned to the 801st Maint. Bn. and went to several excellent technical/mechanical schools from 1964 to 1967. These advanced tech schools I attended have helped me throughout my life.
When I departed for Vietnam in 1967, I was able to return to MP Duty and was the NCOIC of convoy security for most of the year I was there. I made the Army my career for 20 years, earned a Green Beret after Nam, (SF had 2 MP Detachments until 1972) and stayed in the MP field, (118th Abn MP Co.) until retirement. I left the Army and worked another 20 years as a Supervisory Physical Security Specialist, Anti-Terrorism Specialist, and the III Corps Crime Prevention Officer at Ft Hood, TX. PMO. Upon retiring from Ft Hood, I worked for another 8.5 years for the city of Killeen, at the Killeen/Fort Hood Regional Airport as an Operations Specialist, and finally retired for the third time from there. Now, I'm in my late late 70's and My 3 retirement pays, Social Security, and my VA disability allow me to live comfortably in the country about 10 miles out of Killeen.
The moral to this story is that I had no idea of the world that existed outside of my little town in Michigan where I barley graduated from High School. Rather than be an Outlaw, I decided on the Army. (I could have just as easily become a Hells Angel. (I still respect them)
The Army saved me, and even if I had gotten out after the first 3 years, the skills and hands on knowledge and experience would have given me a good edge on any civilian competing in the job market. We really need a draft to get kids motivated and kick-started in life to show them the wonders they'd never have experienced or even knew existed.
(It really does help anyone to grow up)
I volunteered for the Army in 1961 when the draft was still in effect. Personally, I think the Draft is good because it forces kids out of their normally "cushy" environment and requires them to do things they never thought they could possibly do, and in general makes them grow up. After Basic, I volunteered for Airborne while in MP School and ended up at Ft Campbell, KY. in the 101st Airborne MP Detachment. I had to leave the Detachment when I broke another MP's Jaw and put him in the ICU for having an affair with my now ex-wife. I was reassigned to the 801st Maint. Bn. and went to several excellent technical/mechanical schools from 1964 to 1967. These advanced tech schools I attended have helped me throughout my life.
When I departed for Vietnam in 1967, I was able to return to MP Duty and was the NCOIC of convoy security for most of the year I was there. I made the Army my career for 20 years, earned a Green Beret after Nam, (SF had 2 MP Detachments until 1972) and stayed in the MP field, (118th Abn MP Co.) until retirement. I left the Army and worked another 20 years as a Supervisory Physical Security Specialist, Anti-Terrorism Specialist, and the III Corps Crime Prevention Officer at Ft Hood, TX. PMO. Upon retiring from Ft Hood, I worked for another 8.5 years for the city of Killeen, at the Killeen/Fort Hood Regional Airport as an Operations Specialist, and finally retired for the third time from there. Now, I'm in my late late 70's and My 3 retirement pays, Social Security, and my VA disability allow me to live comfortably in the country about 10 miles out of Killeen.
The moral to this story is that I had no idea of the world that existed outside of my little town in Michigan where I barley graduated from High School. Rather than be an Outlaw, I decided on the Army. (I could have just as easily become a Hells Angel. (I still respect them)
The Army saved me, and even if I had gotten out after the first 3 years, the skills and hands on knowledge and experience would have given me a good edge on any civilian competing in the job market. We really need a draft to get kids motivated and kick-started in life to show them the wonders they'd never have experienced or even knew existed.
(It really does help anyone to grow up)
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
All those that avoided the draft should be to North Korea. This courtesy of our government. America citizen should be revoked.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Hey, for me I had no choice. I loved my country and was a patriotic person back during war in the RVN. Things changed when we walked away and spat on the graves of those who paid the ultimate sac rice.
I was not born anywhere else but here, and I did what was right according to the law. I was in the Army. I had a friend who enlisted in the AF and spent all of his time in Europe and did not come close to the battlefield. Wasn’t he blessed. I am sot sure, he can nearly get disability higher than 10%, he has hearing problems.
I only served 19 months with a 6 month early out. My disability is not at 100%, not complete and total. It took me a while before I claimed what was due me.
Thank you America the Beautiful. My country.
I was not born anywhere else but here, and I did what was right according to the law. I was in the Army. I had a friend who enlisted in the AF and spent all of his time in Europe and did not come close to the battlefield. Wasn’t he blessed. I am sot sure, he can nearly get disability higher than 10%, he has hearing problems.
I only served 19 months with a 6 month early out. My disability is not at 100%, not complete and total. It took me a while before I claimed what was due me.
Thank you America the Beautiful. My country.
(0)
(0)
CPL Johnnie White
One other thing, I was ashamed to let anyone know I was in Vietnam, but after they had a parade for all vets, I no longer felt that way. I feel goo when someone says”Welcome Home,” “Thank you for your service.” Now that is worth all of the grief I took before. Knowing I did not start the war, but i did my part. Thank sGod I am here with the PTSD and the Agent Orange as a result. Still glad to be here though.
(0)
(0)
SPC Michael Tierney
When I was about to be drafted, everyone told me to join the Reserves or the Guard. Both easy ways to avoid VN. I looked at a six year commitment vs two years for the draft and opted for the draft and the risk of a tour in VN. Luckily, I was shot in the leg instead of in the head so I came home. I was never ashamed of or embarrassed by my service in VN. I did join the Viet Nam Veterans Against The War as soon as I went back to college. It was a poorly executed war with no real objective or strategy. I wish a guy like Colin Powell would explain what the hell the Generals were thinking. Westmorland and Abrams sure deserve a lot of blame for the mess.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google