I graduated from Carolina in 1969. Observing the angst among those around me about the Draft was humorous, because I was in Navy ROTC. I was already committed to the military and as a Naval Officer. I spent nearly 13 months in Vietnam and wound up working with an Army unit in the Mekong/Bassac Delta region. We ran the Phoenix Program (Phung Huong) in IV Corps. Those who were really concientous objectors and had the courage to say so have my respect. Those who ran because they just didn’t want to serve or were afraid deserve no respect.
My family has a strong military tradition going back to the Civil War. My father served in WWI, my older brother served in WWII, I served in Vietnam and my son served in the first Iraq War. I hope my grandchildren will also serve in the military.