Comments on: What's Your Number? http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:48:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Adrian Winchester http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-1085819 Adrian Winchester Thu, 02 May 2013 00:20:33 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-1085819 I have a question for you: After you your birthday was called, how long did you have until you had to go to Vietnam? Was it one month or two? I have a question for you: After you your birthday was called, how long did you have until you had to go to Vietnam? Was it one month or two?

]]> By: Jay http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-984439 Jay Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:03:34 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-984439 I volunteered for the U.S. Army. It was repugnant. In no way did I feel then, nor do I feel now, that we were defending the homeland of the United States. It was all about being a bouncer for the multinational corporations. I would never do it over and strongly recommend that young people avoid war. It is hell. If you want to defend your country exercise your 2nd Amendment rights and buy a rifle. Don't expect to use it though because the U.S. homeland has not been invaded since 1812. Also do your best to keep the corrupt politicians in Washington, D.C. from aiding terrorists. My generation failed to stop Reagan and Bush from aiding the radical Muslim terrorists in Afghanistan and we got 9-11 as a result of their mistakes. You want freedom - become a dissident and resist the government when it does evil. You will do much more for freedom than a bunch of immoral little lemmings who obey orders. I volunteered for the U.S. Army. It was repugnant. In no way did I feel then, nor do I feel now, that we were defending the homeland of the United States. It was all about being a bouncer for the multinational corporations. I would never do it over and strongly recommend that young people avoid war. It is hell. If you want to defend your country exercise your 2nd Amendment rights and buy a rifle. Don't expect to use it though because the U.S. homeland has not been invaded since 1812. Also do your best to keep the corrupt politicians in Washington, D.C. from aiding terrorists. My generation failed to stop Reagan and Bush from aiding the radical Muslim terrorists in Afghanistan and we got 9-11 as a result of their mistakes. You want freedom – become a dissident and resist the government when it does evil. You will do much more for freedom than a bunch of immoral little lemmings who obey orders.

]]> By: david http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-971436 david Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:42:31 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-971436 whats your problem what do you expect duh whats your problem what do you expect duh

]]> By: david http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-971435 david Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:40:51 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-971435 yes I am human yes I am human

]]> By: david http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-971432 david Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:39:23 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-971432 I graduated in 1971, went out and signed up for the draft ( required by law) I kept that draft card in my wallet for the next 20 years, threw it out when I turned 40. Never knew what my lottery number was until today when I looked it on line. number 318. I never felt the need to be involved in Viet Nam. What a hell hole that was. never did serve in the military and my father wont have either If he could have gotten away with it. but none the less I am thankful for those who did go. I graduated in 1971, went out and signed up for the draft ( required by law) I kept that draft card in my wallet for the next 20 years, threw it out when I turned 40. Never knew what my lottery number was until today when I looked it on line. number 318. I never felt the need to be involved in Viet Nam. What a hell hole that was. never did serve in the military and my father wont have either If he could have gotten away with it. but none the less I am thankful for those who did go.

]]> By: Mike #63 http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-849292 Mike #63 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:50:13 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-849292 I turned 19 on November the 10th 1970. Got my draft papers sometime in the middle of December. February 4th 1971 started basic training at Fort Leonard Wood Mo. I stayed there for 8 more weeks for combat engineer training. The whole time we were there all of the drill instructors had all of us believing we were going to Nam. After 2 weeks leave I went to Hanau Germany as an atomic weapons expert in ADM. I served almost 20 months in Germany. I really enjoyed Germany and will always remember my experience over there. I got out on the 25th of January 1973 as a spec5. That was about the same time they pulled most of the troops out of Vietnam. I turned 19 on November the 10th 1970. Got my draft papers sometime in the middle of December. February 4th 1971 started basic training at Fort Leonard Wood Mo. I stayed there for 8 more weeks for combat engineer training. The whole time we were there all of the drill instructors had all of us believing we were going to Nam. After 2 weeks leave I went to Hanau Germany as an atomic weapons expert in ADM. I served almost 20 months in Germany. I really enjoyed Germany and will always remember my experience over there. I got out on the 25th of January 1973 as a spec5. That was about the same time they pulled most of the troops out of Vietnam.

]]> By: Mike Wilde http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-848935 Mike Wilde Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:57:57 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-848935 I have nothing but respect for the brave men who served our country in Vietnam! I'm ashamed at the way our country treated returning soldiers! Thank you for your service and sacrifice! I have nothing but respect for the brave men who served our country in Vietnam! I'm ashamed at the way our country treated returning soldiers! Thank you for your service and sacrifice!

]]> By: Dave http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-831186 Dave Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:14:23 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-831186 I think I heard where the last WW I Vet died last year ....if he were in a WW I blog He would have had no one to argue with ....lol This will never be settled but, eventually there will be a last man standing here ....and he'll have the final word but sadly he won't have anyone to dispute his view of the war. This place opened up a whole can of worms .... I used to write about my thoughts and haven't looked at them in years. Today I did. "Ever silent is the night of who was wrong and who was right, of who will go and who remains who now is chosen to hold me sway as dust to the wind cast lots o'er my soul and wonder not "for whom the bell tolls" for now is my time ...... this night I must flee one day to be your time, "It will toll for thee" I think I heard where the last WW I Vet died last year ….if he were in a WW I blog He would have had no one to argue with ….lol This will never be settled but, eventually there will be a last man standing here ….and he'll have the final word but sadly he won't have anyone to dispute his view of the war. This place opened up a whole can of worms …. I used to write about my thoughts and haven't looked at them in years. Today I did.
"Ever silent is the night
of who was wrong and
who was right,
of who will go and who remains
who now is chosen to hold me sway
as dust to the wind cast lots o'er my soul
and wonder not "for whom the bell tolls"
for now is my time …… this night I must flee
one day to be your time, "It will toll for thee"

]]> By: Tom 51 http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-831159 Tom 51 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:58:20 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-831159 Hi Dave, thanks for your comments. I was drafted right after "Kent State" and the national moratorium. At the time, it appeared that the government was now starting to shoot college kids for simply protesting. I absolutely didn't want serve and thought that the government was run by fascists. At that time there appeared to be a "class war" in this country. Kids from the upper middle class always seemed to get out of the draft. They seemed to have a much different attitude about certain entitlements; among them was an exemption from the draft. I was a working class kid. Most of my friends in High School were working class kids and they WERE the ones that were sent to RVN. I got lucky and went to college. Alternatively, had I not gone to school, my suspicion is that I would have been in country during 1967-68. There is nothing that anyone did there that I could say with absolute certainty that I wouldn't have done. (Scare the shit out of me and give me an assault weapon and see what happens.) We had been raised by fathers and teachers who all seemed to have been WW 2 "grunts". It was impressed on most of us that we had a duty to serve the country whether we wanted to or not. I was definitely against the war and didn't want anything to do with it, but I wouldn't have fled to Canada. Once again, I got very, very lucky. Hi Dave, thanks for your comments.

I was drafted right after "Kent State" and the national moratorium. At the time, it appeared that the government was now starting to shoot college kids for simply protesting. I absolutely didn't want serve and thought that the government was run by fascists.

At that time there appeared to be a "class war" in this country. Kids from the upper middle class always seemed to get out of the draft. They seemed to have a much different attitude about certain entitlements; among them was an exemption from the draft.

I was a working class kid. Most of my friends in High School were working class kids and they WERE the ones that were sent to RVN. I got lucky and went to college. Alternatively, had I not gone to school, my suspicion is that I would have been in country during 1967-68. There is nothing that anyone did there that I could say with absolute certainty that I wouldn't have done. (Scare the shit out of me and give me an assault weapon and see what happens.)

We had been raised by fathers and teachers who all seemed to have been WW 2 "grunts". It was impressed on most of us that we had a duty to serve the country whether we wanted to or not. I was definitely against the war and didn't want anything to do with it, but I wouldn't have fled to Canada. Once again, I got very, very lucky.

]]> By: Dave http://www.historynet.com/whats-your-number.htm#comment-831083 Dave Wed, 09 Jan 2013 07:53:59 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681604#comment-831083 This was a typical attitude of the era ... I hadn't thought about it for years until one day my 7 year old daughter came from school. She usually was happy and eager to tell me about her day ...but not that day. Finally she came out side where I was working on a tractor still quiet but, I knew something was bothering her so I said just tell.me what bothering you. She did ...She asked if i killed babies because a kid at school told her his dad said I did. Coulda knocked me over with a feather. All I ever said to anyone was I didn't shoot at anyone who wasn't shooting at me and babies don't carry guns, so her friends dad was wrong. This was almost 40 years after the war. There was no neutral ground back then "51" ....you was either for or against. This was a typical attitude of the era … I hadn't thought about it for years until one day my 7 year old daughter came from school. She usually was happy and eager to tell me about her day …but not that day. Finally she came out side where I was working on a tractor still quiet but, I knew something was bothering her so I said just tell.me what bothering you. She did …She asked if i killed babies because a kid at school told her his dad said I did. Coulda knocked me over with a feather. All I ever said to anyone was I didn't shoot at anyone who wasn't shooting at me and babies don't carry guns, so her friends dad was wrong. This was almost 40 years after the war. There was no neutral ground back then "51" ….you was either for or against.

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