Yep, me too Mike, thanks guys and to my brother who was in Vietnam and returned, and they were exiting when I had to register. He’s one of them that made it home, but it changed him.
At age 21, with a baby daughter, I was called in for an induction physical, which I happened to fail, shortly after my wife’s cousin was killed in Vietnam. My wife, even after 55 years, has never fully recovered from the actual and potential trauma of that time; she still goes into depression about the waste of a young life.Yes, we should honor and respect the service of every one who served voluntarily or involuntarily; and especially those, from every conflict, who died in uniform and now are only tragic memories for those they left behind.And we we should never forget the on-going struggle with service related disabilities for the tens of thousands who left uniformed service with forever physical damage.As a song once asked; “When will they ever learn…oh when will they ever learn?”
I had a similar experience. I turned 18 in 1973. Nixon had announced in 1972 that they were not going to be calling up young men in 1973 in an effort to win reelection.
I turned 18 in 1973 so 1 was 1-H. I enlisted in the Air Force in January of 1976 and spent my next 20 years in the Air Force. Some of my friends saw combat in Desert Storm and other conflicts. I was fortunate. My stepson had 3 deployments to the desert. He came back, but one of the members of his unit on the first deployment didn’t.
MS72 14 days ago
And I voted for Nixon, who ended the war AND THE DRAFT.
Zebrastripes 14 days ago
Serving one’s country makes a man out of boys!
My grandsons had to register when they turned 18, right out of school.
They’re waiting anxiously to draft a willing citizen.
And most wars ARE ones that didn’t need to be.
I’ve lived through WWII and beyond…all they do is cause grief☹️☹️
Thank you to all the Hero’s who gave their life and who served proudly!
IndyW 14 days ago
Yep, me too Mike, thanks guys and to my brother who was in Vietnam and returned, and they were exiting when I had to register. He’s one of them that made it home, but it changed him.
gary.eddings4157 Premium Member 14 days ago
At age 21, with a baby daughter, I was called in for an induction physical, which I happened to fail, shortly after my wife’s cousin was killed in Vietnam. My wife, even after 55 years, has never fully recovered from the actual and potential trauma of that time; she still goes into depression about the waste of a young life.Yes, we should honor and respect the service of every one who served voluntarily or involuntarily; and especially those, from every conflict, who died in uniform and now are only tragic memories for those they left behind.And we we should never forget the on-going struggle with service related disabilities for the tens of thousands who left uniformed service with forever physical damage.As a song once asked; “When will they ever learn…oh when will they ever learn?”
Impkins Premium Member 14 days ago
Thanks for this, Mike. :)
Brent Rosenthal Premium Member 14 days ago
I had a similar experience. I turned 18 in 1973. Nixon had announced in 1972 that they were not going to be calling up young men in 1973 in an effort to win reelection.
donut reply 14 days ago
So if Mike was real, he would be my age (69 this coming Sunday). That’s what happened to me.
James Lindley Premium Member 12 days ago
I turned 18 in 1973 so 1 was 1-H. I enlisted in the Air Force in January of 1976 and spent my next 20 years in the Air Force. Some of my friends saw combat in Desert Storm and other conflicts. I was fortunate. My stepson had 3 deployments to the desert. He came back, but one of the members of his unit on the first deployment didn’t.