I remember the tension leading up to the draft and the relief when I realized my number pretty much protected me from becoming eligible. I also remember one night in my dorm room where I struggled with my conscience about knowing guys who were drafted or soon to be, and feeling like I should be there with them. I considered enlisting, believing it to be my patriotic duty and only right, and I kept going back and forth on the issue. One thing made the difference though. My father who had served in World War II didn’t believe in this war, didn’t trust our involvement and told me to not get involved. He was as patriotic as anyone I’d ever met then or now and somehow his advice helped me make the decision to stay in school and get my degree. That decision that night really changed the trajectory of my life, and now being the father of four I know how important the advice I might be called on to give can be to the lives of my children.
