How did you deal with the draft?

[DGS49]

I just finished an interesting book written by one of my contemporaries about his experiences as an infantry squad leader in Vietnam*. It was poignant to me because the author faced EXACTLY the same choice in August of 1968 that I did. My view is that I made the right choice and he made the wrong one.

He and I were both done with college and we both knew that we would shortly be drafted. He was in Iowa; I was in Pennsylvania. The choice was this: You could volunteer for the draft (or wait for it to happen) and accept whatever duty the Army gave you for TWO (2) years, or you could enlist in the Army, take a third year, and CHOOSE the training you would get. Choosing the draft probably meant that you would be assigned to the infantry (MOS 11B20) and sent to Vietnam. Enlisting probably meant that you would go to Vietnam, albeit in a non-combat role (which the vast majority of us did while in Vietnam). And of course, enlisting added a year to your time in the service.

He decided to "roll the dice" and volunteer for the draft. With a 4-year degree, he didn't think the Army would make him an infantryman, but he was wrong. But he made the most of it, volunteering for "NCO School" - 16 weeks of post-AIT training that qualified him to be a Buck Sergeant (E-5) when he got to Vietnam, which made him a squad leader. Timing-wise, it meant that by the time he finished his 12 months in RVN he would be eligible for an early-out, making his total time in the service somewhat less than the two years.

I chose training in exchange for the third year, but I chose a stupid one called "Stock Control and Accounting," because I liked the sound of it. It taught you how to fill out self-explanatory forms and to count rolls of toilet paper. Fortunately or not, when I got to that school (Ft Lee, VA), I was given the choice to opt out of the school, and OJT in "Personnel," which would have the same effect as the training - keeping me out of the infantry. My Army path was a bit convoluted, spending a year at Ft Lee, six months or so at Ft Belvoir, VA, and ultimately volunteering to go to Vietnam as a Personnel Specialist. In fact, my MOS was 71H30, the "30" meaning that I SHOULD be assigned to some headquarters unit rather than out in the boonies. I ended up in Danang, which was possibly the best duty one could have in the Army in Vietnam - not as nice as the Air Force, but pretty good, all things considered.

Sgt Dick Hogue got out of the Army in August 1970, two years after he went in, albeit somewhat worse off for the experience (read the book). I got out in April 1971, in excellent health and condition, with a nice bank account. (In Vietnam we got extra pay and paid no Federal or State income tax).

While I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, there is no question in my mind that I made the right choice in August 1968, and I would make the same choice today if I were put back in that situation with the same options in front of me.

If the draft were reinstated today and you were 18, what would you choose?

______________________
* "A Soldier's Story: Forever Changed" by Richard F. Hogue

 

[pknopp]

Nobody should have been faced with any of those choices.

 

[Auld Phart]

I just finished an interesting book written by one of my contemporaries about his experiences as an infantry squad leader in Vietnam*. It was poignant to me because the author faced EXACTLY the same choice in August of 1968 that I did. My view is that I made the right choice and he made the wrong one.

He and I were both done with college and we both knew that we would shortly be drafted. He was in Iowa; I was in Pennsylvania. The choice was this: You could volunteer for the draft (or wait for it to happen) and accept whatever duty the Army gave you for TWO (2) years, or you could enlist in the Army, take a third year, and CHOOSE the training you would get. Choosing the draft probably meant that you would be assigned to the infantry (MOS 11B20) and sent to Vietnam. Enlisting probably meant that you would go to Vietnam, albeit in a non-combat role (which the vast majority of us did while in Vietnam). And of course, enlisting added a year to your time in the service.

He decided to "roll the dice" and volunteer for the draft. With a 4-year degree, he didn't think the Army would make him an infantryman, but he was wrong. But he made the most of it, volunteering for "NCO School" - 16 weeks of post-AIT training that qualified him to be a Buck Sergeant (E-5) when he got to Vietnam, which made him a squad leader. Timing-wise, it meant that by the time he finished his 12 months in RVN he would be eligible for an early-out, making his total time in the service somewhat less than the two years.

I chose training in exchange for the third year, but I chose a stupid one called "Stock Control and Accounting," because I liked the sound of it. It taught you how to fill out self-explanatory forms and to count rolls of toilet paper. Fortunately or not, when I got to that school (Ft Lee, VA), I was given the choice to opt out of the school, and OJT in "Personnel," which would have the same effect as the training - keeping me out of the infantry. My Army path was a bit convoluted, spending a year at Ft Lee, six months or so at Ft Belvoir, VA, and ultimately volunteering to go to Vietnam as a Personnel Specialist. In fact, my MOS was 71H30, the "30" meaning that I SHOULD be assigned to some headquarters unit rather than out in the boonies. I ended up in Danang, which was possibly the best duty one could have in the Army in Vietnam - not as nice as the Air Force, but pretty good, all things considered.

Sgt Dick Hogue got out of the Army in August 1970, two years after he went in, albeit somewhat worse off for the experience (read the book). I got out in April 1971, in excellent health and condition, with a nice bank account. (In Vietnam we got extra pay and paid no Federal or State income tax).

While I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, there is no question in my mind that I made the right choice in August 1968, and I would make the same choice today if I were put back in that situation with the same options in front of me.

If the draft were reinstated today and you were 18, what would you choose?

______________________
* "A Soldier's Story: Forever Changed" by Richard F. Hogue

If the draft were reinstated today and you were 18, what would you choose?

same as I did in 69.

wait for the letter giving a date to report for my physical, then enlist in the Navy.

 

[Zincwarrior]

I made sure I was born after the draft ended.

 

[22lcidw]

That era sucked. I was a little young for the draft. Our nation with President Johnson a Progressive Socialist in legislation was a war monger also. And that is what Progs are today as they are outed. Only now we are taxed several times more heavily.

 

[odanny]

Da Nang is a popular stop for tourists visiting Vietnam, I had a ticket to go there late last year but the weather was terrible in January (rain every day) and I was just getting over a respiratory infection about the same time my flight was scheduled to depart Bangkok. Trying to reschedule the flight on VietJet ended up being impossible as they made little attempt to respond to my inquiries and it is quite possible no one spoke English. It is also possible they saw my nationality and just chose to ignore me.

It's a beautiful country, I visited Ho Chi Minh City and look forward to seeing Da Nang on my next trip to SEA. I certainly am grateful I was never sent there as an occupier. I worked with many Vietnam veterans over the years and they did not say much about their actual time over there. It was a terrible war that should have never been fought, and ended in 1975 after being occupied since 1887 by French, and later American, colonizers.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Draft now would not be for 2 years takes that long for schools.

 

[1srelluc]

I missed it by a year!

 

[tyroneweaver]

I just finished an interesting book written by one of my contemporaries about his experiences as an infantry squad leader in Vietnam*. It was poignant to me because the author faced EXACTLY the same choice in August of 1968 that I did. My view is that I made the right choice and he made the wrong one.

He and I were both done with college and we both knew that we would shortly be drafted. He was in Iowa; I was in Pennsylvania. The choice was this: You could volunteer for the draft (or wait for it to happen) and accept whatever duty the Army gave you for TWO (2) years, or you could enlist in the Army, take a third year, and CHOOSE the training you would get. Choosing the draft probably meant that you would be assigned to the infantry (MOS 11B20) and sent to Vietnam. Enlisting probably meant that you would go to Vietnam, albeit in a non-combat role (which the vast majority of us did while in Vietnam). And of course, enlisting added a year to your time in the service.

He decided to "roll the dice" and volunteer for the draft. With a 4-year degree, he didn't think the Army would make him an infantryman, but he was wrong. But he made the most of it, volunteering for "NCO School" - 16 weeks of post-AIT training that qualified him to be a Buck Sergeant (E-5) when he got to Vietnam, which made him a squad leader. Timing-wise, it meant that by the time he finished his 12 months in RVN he would be eligible for an early-out, making his total time in the service somewhat less than the two years.

I chose training in exchange for the third year, but I chose a stupid one called "Stock Control and Accounting," because I liked the sound of it. It taught you how to fill out self-explanatory forms and to count rolls of toilet paper. Fortunately or not, when I got to that school (Ft Lee, VA), I was given the choice to opt out of the school, and OJT in "Personnel," which would have the same effect as the training - keeping me out of the infantry. My Army path was a bit convoluted, spending a year at Ft Lee, six months or so at Ft Belvoir, VA, and ultimately volunteering to go to Vietnam as a Personnel Specialist. In fact, my MOS was 71H30, the "30" meaning that I SHOULD be assigned to some headquarters unit rather than out in the boonies. I ended up in Danang, which was possibly the best duty one could have in the Army in Vietnam - not as nice as the Air Force, but pretty good, all things considered.

Sgt Dick Hogue got out of the Army in August 1970, two years after he went in, albeit somewhat worse off for the experience (read the book). I got out in April 1971, in excellent health and condition, with a nice bank account. (In Vietnam we got extra pay and paid no Federal or State income tax).

While I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, there is no question in my mind that I made the right choice in August 1968, and I would make the same choice today if I were put back in that situation with the same options in front of me.

If the draft were reinstated today and you were 18, what would you choose?

______________________
* "A Soldier's Story: Forever Changed" by Richard F. Hogue

I never had a deferment 1A

 

[AZrailwhale]

My draft number was very low, so I enlisted to have some control of my destiny. HAH. I enlisted for Warrant Officer Flight School, couldn't pass a flight physical which my recruiter knew because of my eyesight, he then told me he changed my contract to Heavy Equipment Operator (I figured bulldozer drivers made very good money), I later found that he changed it to Combat Engineer (a grunt with a shovel). I managed to change that to EOD, then got taken off levy for Vietnam and made a clerk. I managed to change that back to Combat Engineer. Round and round we go, needs of the army dictate.

 

[TNHarley]

Luckily, I wasnt born then. But if I was old enough, I wouldnt have went. Im not going to put my life on the line for politicians.
For my country? Absolutely. But that wasnt about our country. None of our wars lately have been.

 

[whitehall]

The first thing on the Peanut Man's agenda was to pardon every freaking traitor who fled to the people's republic of Canada to avoid the draft. In ten years the traitors were running college campuses and the federal government.

 

[rightwinger]

My draft number was 21 but they ended the draft the following year.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

I just finished an interesting book written by one of my contemporaries about his experiences as an infantry squad leader in Vietnam*. It was poignant to me because the author faced EXACTLY the same choice in August of 1968 that I did. My view is that I made the right choice and he made the wrong one.

He and I were both done with college and we both knew that we would shortly be drafted. He was in Iowa; I was in Pennsylvania. The choice was this: You could volunteer for the draft (or wait for it to happen) and accept whatever duty the Army gave you for TWO (2) years, or you could enlist in the Army, take a third year, and CHOOSE the training you would get. Choosing the draft probably meant that you would be assigned to the infantry (MOS 11B20) and sent to Vietnam. Enlisting probably meant that you would go to Vietnam, albeit in a non-combat role (which the vast majority of us did while in Vietnam). And of course, enlisting added a year to your time in the service.

He decided to "roll the dice" and volunteer for the draft. With a 4-year degree, he didn't think the Army would make him an infantryman, but he was wrong. But he made the most of it, volunteering for "NCO School" - 16 weeks of post-AIT training that qualified him to be a Buck Sergeant (E-5) when he got to Vietnam, which made him a squad leader. Timing-wise, it meant that by the time he finished his 12 months in RVN he would be eligible for an early-out, making his total time in the service somewhat less than the two years.

I chose training in exchange for the third year, but I chose a stupid one called "Stock Control and Accounting," because I liked the sound of it. It taught you how to fill out self-explanatory forms and to count rolls of toilet paper. Fortunately or not, when I got to that school (Ft Lee, VA), I was given the choice to opt out of the school, and OJT in "Personnel," which would have the same effect as the training - keeping me out of the infantry. My Army path was a bit convoluted, spending a year at Ft Lee, six months or so at Ft Belvoir, VA, and ultimately volunteering to go to Vietnam as a Personnel Specialist. In fact, my MOS was 71H30, the "30" meaning that I SHOULD be assigned to some headquarters unit rather than out in the boonies. I ended up in Danang, which was possibly the best duty one could have in the Army in Vietnam - not as nice as the Air Force, but pretty good, all things considered.

Sgt Dick Hogue got out of the Army in August 1970, two years after he went in, albeit somewhat worse off for the experience (read the book). I got out in April 1971, in excellent health and condition, with a nice bank account. (In Vietnam we got extra pay and paid no Federal or State income tax).

While I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, there is no question in my mind that I made the right choice in August 1968, and I would make the same choice today if I were put back in that situation with the same options in front of me.

If the draft were reinstated today and you were 18, what would you choose?

______________________
* "A Soldier's Story: Forever Changed" by Richard F. Hogue

Success in a Failed Economy Is Nothing to Be Proud of. It's Like Being a Starter with the Chicago White Sox.

Even before my senior year in high school, I had an experience that made me realize that college was for young people who were afraid to grow up. I was afraid of never growing up, so I did what I thought was the opposite. I volunteered for combat in Vietnam by joining the Marines when they were rushing people over there.

It was going from one extreme to the other, but when I did go to college after I got out, I realized that I had been right about what it was. Postmodern businesses need employees who have no self-respect; that's why they mandate this birth-class biased indentured servitude.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

I made sure I was born after the draft ended.

Sissyboys Bush and Quayle, etc., Made Sure They Were Born Rich

 

[Meathead]

I missed it by a year!

Yeah, me too. I had a draft lottery number, 251 if I remember correctly but that was 1974 when they stopped drafting.

 

[AZrailwhale]

My draft number was 21 but they ended the draft the following year.

Mine was far lower than that.

 

[alang1216]

I just finished an interesting book written by one of my contemporaries about his experiences as an infantry squad leader in Vietnam*. It was poignant to me because the author faced EXACTLY the same choice in August of 1968 that I did. My view is that I made the right choice and he made the wrong one.

He and I were both done with college and we both knew that we would shortly be drafted. He was in Iowa; I was in Pennsylvania. The choice was this: You could volunteer for the draft (or wait for it to happen) and accept whatever duty the Army gave you for TWO (2) years, or you could enlist in the Army, take a third year, and CHOOSE the training you would get. Choosing the draft probably meant that you would be assigned to the infantry (MOS 11B20) and sent to Vietnam. Enlisting probably meant that you would go to Vietnam, albeit in a non-combat role (which the vast majority of us did while in Vietnam). And of course, enlisting added a year to your time in the service.

He decided to "roll the dice" and volunteer for the draft. With a 4-year degree, he didn't think the Army would make him an infantryman, but he was wrong. But he made the most of it, volunteering for "NCO School" - 16 weeks of post-AIT training that qualified him to be a Buck Sergeant (E-5) when he got to Vietnam, which made him a squad leader. Timing-wise, it meant that by the time he finished his 12 months in RVN he would be eligible for an early-out, making his total time in the service somewhat less than the two years.

I chose training in exchange for the third year, but I chose a stupid one called "Stock Control and Accounting," because I liked the sound of it. It taught you how to fill out self-explanatory forms and to count rolls of toilet paper. Fortunately or not, when I got to that school (Ft Lee, VA), I was given the choice to opt out of the school, and OJT in "Personnel," which would have the same effect as the training - keeping me out of the infantry. My Army path was a bit convoluted, spending a year at Ft Lee, six months or so at Ft Belvoir, VA, and ultimately volunteering to go to Vietnam as a Personnel Specialist. In fact, my MOS was 71H30, the "30" meaning that I SHOULD be assigned to some headquarters unit rather than out in the boonies. I ended up in Danang, which was possibly the best duty one could have in the Army in Vietnam - not as nice as the Air Force, but pretty good, all things considered.

Sgt Dick Hogue got out of the Army in August 1970, two years after he went in, albeit somewhat worse off for the experience (read the book). I got out in April 1971, in excellent health and condition, with a nice bank account. (In Vietnam we got extra pay and paid no Federal or State income tax).

While I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, there is no question in my mind that I made the right choice in August 1968, and I would make the same choice today if I were put back in that situation with the same options in front of me.

If the draft were reinstated today and you were 18, what would you choose?

______________________
* "A Soldier's Story: Forever Changed" by Richard F. Hogue

I resolved early on that I was not going to Vietnam and never did. I knew all the lyrics to

 

[Seymour Flops]

I wasn't old enough to be in the Vietnam draft. When Jimmy Carter instituted the draft, I did not register after turning 18 in 1980, because if a war started, I knew I would join on my own. Six months later, I joined the Army without a war, and had two awesome years of partying in Germany, in between sleeping in the snow.

When I finished my enlistment, one of the last parts of outprocessing was to - register for the draft. Even though I was in the IRR for a few more years. Go figure.

Decades later, my daughter, who has a name that is often mistaken for a boy's name, was turned down for student loan because she had not registered for the Carter-era draft.

The gov'ment am so smurt!

 

[DGS49]

When younger people talk about someone being a "draft dodger" I think they should ponder the well-distributed pictures and films of Woodstock (August 15, 1969), with the hundreds of thousands of revelers engaged in debauchery of various forms, ingesting controlled substances, and generally having a blast.

Virtually every one of the males in those pictures was a draft dodger of one kind or another and they were proud of it. There was no "disgrace" in being a draft dodger at the time. It was something you just did if you could.