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

I enlisted also at 17 fresh out of High School, Parents were Military and whole Family was also Military. My duty was to my Country no one else.

Graduated from High School in 1961. Joined the Air Force in December when I turned 18. Never did receive a draft notice. Best friend went to college, got married, got drafted and ended up in Vietnam. You never knew.

Sgt John Guglielmi -
I DROPPED OUT Of Public Schools Mid 9th Grade....Enlisted ON My 17th Birthday; ~~ 06/29/1961~~ And I Had To LIE To Get IN. The minimum Requirement At THAT Time, Was 10 grade.... SO When I Hit My 1st Base, Little Rock AFB (SAC), I Ran To The Education Office & Completed My GED ~ Then For 4 Years Running, I Took EVER Business Course I Could Lay My Hands On, Through U.S.A.F.I. ~ The "United States Armed Forces Institute".. And I Thank The Gods For Them!! A REAL "Life Changer"!!.
~~~ THANK YOU USAF ~~~~~

I'm glad you're still that guy. Keeps everyone around you on their toes.

You said bugle is that as in drum and bugle? If so who did you March with? As for me Blue Angels Drum Corp from Danvers Massachusetts. And thank you for your service.

Never got one either. Enlisted in the A.F. 11 July 1955 ten days before I turned 18. Before that I had played baritone bugle in the Racine Boy Scouts Drum and Bugle Corp. Nine months after I enlisted I was at my first assignment in the UK. The AF had bands back then but I don't think they had a D & C and I don't think they needed a bugle player. I enjoyed both including my 24 years with the A.F. I have watched the Marines perform on several occasions and they are what I would consider as a real D & C. Hopefully they will continue on in that manner for a long time.

Enlisted in '68.......beat the crowd!!

I was drafted my senior year at the University of California, Berkeley. I went through drone electronics school at Fort Huachuca and then sent to Italy where I spent the next 17 months. Was discharged in September, 1965 and went back to Berkeley to finish up and graduate.

I was surprised in April 1967. I just got to the USA,,from Barcelona Spain..Permanent resident(Green Card) I reported to the selective service, as I was told to do so..In sep 1967 I got the letter>>:Draft.. , I was sent to Americal Division, Chulai, Vietnam..7 month after. some one told to me, get ready, I will go to Honolulu, Hawaii to became US citizen. 4 soldiers including me went to Honolulu for 7 days. Until now, I do not know who did the paper work to became US citizen,,It was great after all. Good men..LBJ.

re. Sgt T Hallock-
Thank you for the reasons you had for joining.

Sgt Ron Romano - Thank you Ron.

Sgt (Join to see) - Since you responded, I hope you don't mind if we can maybe correspond a little. I have so much to ask but I promise to try not to be overwhelming

Full disclosure, My Dad was a Vietnam Veteran and career Air Force, putting in 23 years. He was there in 1970-71. We stayed at Ft. Campbell, KY which was a waiting wives base. The Army took good care of us while he was away. I'm 62 so I was 11 and 12 at the time. He's gone now, died of prostate cancer. I served 4 years in the USAF 1977-81.

He never spoke about it much but I do know he didn't like what he was seeing or what happened. I also know he would have absolutely no desire or interest to become friends with the enemy especially at the expense of SV.

If I have any criticism of you guys (and I say that in no derogatory way) it's the nonchalant way the majority of you seem to have taken it over the years. First, there was the crushing emotional toll when Saigon fell and then years of confusion if I can put it that way and then the current attitude; win some lose some kind of thing.

I may ramble so please forgive me. Instead of blind fury, there's something else. And comensurating with NVA soldiers stateside, inviting them to tell their stories over some brews and snacks isn't practical or the right thing to do.

You guys know more than anyone what monsters they were and still are. And we were Saints compared to them. I don't say that with any hesitation. Not My Lai or anything was worse than their infractions. 10 times as many civilians died in the massacre at Hue than My Lai. There's a memorial for My Lai, none for Hue.

It's also an insult to the S Vietnamese who suffered, during the war, after, now and forever with the communists in power. Seeing an NVA soldier being greeted by our own and being given a celebratory welcome is a kick in the head for a SV soldier or civilian.

I'd like to know what your feelings are in establishing relations with the communist regime. It's been 25 years already but I don't think we should have, what are your thoughts? They have to be doing something for us or giving us something really special to make it worth it.

Before, we were criticized for wanting to help a less than perfect SV government and now it's Ok to work with the worst one in all of V history, the most corrupt, the most incompetent, the most repressive. Unbelieveable.

Unless the communists are funding scholarships for our veterans and their families or contributing to a general welfare fund for our V Veterans or making restitution to V refugees, there is no good reason to be friends with them.

We're supposed to feel guilt and shame but let it be for the right reason. We don't feel guilt and shame for failing, only for trying. But we had to try, it would have been much worse if we didn't try.

Thank you for you time.

Best regards.
Ron Romano
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