Glenn, New York, 1969. No. 222: Vietnam, Here We Go

by | Oct 18, 2017 | Stories

I graduated from high school in Ellenburg Depot , NY, in 1969. I knew the draft lottery was happening soon and I might become elgible for possible infantry time in the Army. Military duty was not new to our family, as my uncles were serving at the time. Some had...

Thomas, Rhode Island, 1971. No. 003: Mother Knows Best

by | Sep 28, 2017 | Stories

I just graduated high school  in June, 1971 and in August I watched my number come up on the TV screen. At first I didn’t know if # 3 was good or bad! It wasn’t long. Within a week I received my first notice in the mail. Then I knew it was for real....

John, Illinois, 1972. No. 003: What Might Have Been

by | Sep 23, 2017 | Stories

I remember I was sitting at the kitchen table with my Mom listening to the numbers being called on the radio. I was in college at the time, but we did not have student deferments in that time period. I was the 12th of 13 children,  the youngest of 6 boys. My...

Paul, Canal Zone, 1971. No. 248: More than I deserve

by | Sep 23, 2017 | Stories

I went to college in the fall of 1970, and got a student deferment from the draft.  Stupidly, I dropped some courses, not realizing that at the end of the school year I wouldn’t have enough credits to sustain my deferment.  I was part of the lottery in...

Steve, North Carolina: No Step Forward

by | Aug 2, 2017 | Stories

By my mid-teens I knew what a conscientious objector was, and I knew I was one.  I’d always attended Quaker schools, and fully accepted the belief that God is found in every person. Participating in killing other people was unacceptable.I started college in...