 Quote: Originally Posted by Crabby  Small point of clarification... nobody got drafted "for Viet Nam." The drafts were for military service. 2-S went to 1-A or 4-F after graduation. Not everyone was sent to Viet Nam. This is valid point and I'd like to add another one. While I failed to make it, another point is that many of the chest-thumper types like to use military service or lack thereof as a means to question peoples' personal resolve, and even their degree of patriotism.
The "draft" was simply that: a draft. All males, on turning 18-years of age, had to register with Selective Service. Doing so, however, did not mean that all of them would be drafted into active military service.
There is a world of difference between mandatory conscription INTO military service and mandatory registration FOR POTENTIAL induction into military service.
The United States has never had mandatory conscription. Back when there was a draft, potential employers always worried about the status of job applicants' "military obligation."
Aside from the law requiring all males to register on reaching the age of 18-years, there was NO "military obligation" unless you joined or were drafted during the age-eligible period--which I believe ran from 18-years of age through 26-years of age. But, don't quote me on the eligible range.
There are many older members of Congress who did NOT serve. It wasn't because they intentionally took measures to prevent it, but because they were never drafted after registering.
Still, relative to my issues with Frogman's charging Biden with draft dodging is that he (Biden) registered with Selective Service on turning 18-years of age as was required by law.
Regards,
Joe Walther | 
Joe Walther
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