The military draft brought the war to the American home front. During the Vietnam War era, between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million. Although only 25 percent of the military force in the combat zones were draftees, the system of conscription caused many young American men to volunteer for the armed forces in order to have more of a choice of which division in the military they would serve. While many soldiers did support the war, at least initially, to others the draft seemed like a death sentence: being sent to a war and fight for a cause that they did not believe in. Some sought refuge in college or parental deferments; others intentionally failed aptitude tests or otherwise evaded; thousands fled to Canada; the politically connected sought refuge in the National Guard; and a growing number engaged in direct resistance. Antiwar activists viewed the draft as immoral and the only means for the government to continue the war with fresh soldiers. Ironically, as the draft continued to fuel the war effort, it also intensified the antiwar cause. Although the Selective Service’s deferment system meant that men of lower socioeconomic standing were most likely to be sent to the front lines, no one was completely safe from the draft. Almost every American was either eligible to go to war or knew someone who was. The Vietnam War draft was controversial because people who did not support the war and had no say in formulating war policy were nevertheless being forced to fight. Draftees could be under 21 (18 at the youngest), and at that time, nobody under the age of 21 was allowed to vote. Thus, many 18-year-olds protested that they should not be forced to fight in a war if they had no say in electing the leaders…
History of the Draft
Conscription during the 1960s took place under the legal authority of the peacetime draft, because the United States never formally declared war on North Vietnam. Legal authority for a peacetime draft came from the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in order to mobilize American civilian-soldiers in anticipation of entry into World War II. During the Korean War, the Selective Service began the policy of granting deferments to college students with an academic ranking in the top half of their class. Between 1954-1964, from the end of the Korean War until the escalation in Vietnam, the “peacetime” draft inducted more than 1.4 million American men, an average of more than 120,000 per year. As part of their Cold War mission, many state universities required ROTC training by male students, although campus protests caused administrators to begin repealing mandatory ROTC in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Broken Promises Lead to Discontent
Lyndon Johnson ran as the “peace” candidate in his 1964 campaign against conservative Barry Goldwater, who wanted to escalate the military offensive against North Vietnam and the Viet Cong guerillas. In October, at a campaign appearance in Ohio, Johnson promised that “we are not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.” But in the months after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Johnson rapidly increased the U.S. military presence in the defense of South Vietnam, with 184,000 troops stationed there by the end of 1965.
America Had No Choice But to Escalate?
Feelings Towards the Draft
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CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website 
Foreign college students had to register with selective service as an entrance requirement at state supported colleges and universities. If they let their grades drop they could be drafted. Went thru basic with an Irishman; not even an American citizen. He didn’t like the situation but did well in training.
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Carter brought back draft for political power
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Very interesting. I went on my own free will,I thank god.everyday to bring me home. No one to greet me when I came home !!
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Come to think of it, l was a volunteer, sent to Vietnam, I guess if it wasn’t for my parents and sisters, l probably would of arrived home alone. I was never disrespected, but l remember the numbers in the story so true. I served a career in the military, and probably get more attention today then 40 years ago.
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Two high school buddies were on the football team. Both got doctors to claim they had flat feet and neither went. Two more had to go or go to jail. They became firemen and did that later as a civilian career. Anybody could get out or join a service that didn’t have an active part. Even of those who went 11/12 were in support working in PXs, Post Offices, Mess Halls, admin. bringing supplies to Vietnam, etc. After flunking college I went 11B, Jump School, Special Forces and liked Vietnam and the people. I returned to become an E6 go to Flight School become a Warrant Officer Scout pilot, return to Vietnam and get out. 47,000 died there from Hostile fire, less than 2500/year. Over 50,000 died on our highways every year I was there, lots from drugs. I have no regrets about Vietnam at all. If I hadn’t gone in the Army and tried Flight School, I never would have returned, married and completed College and Law School. I never would have retired as a District Attorney or completed 32 years as an Army pilot in the Guard. I lived in Berkeley. The Anti-war faction was a small group organized by local Communists and not very successful except at rewriting history.
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Much truth here.
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” … small group organized by local Communists … ”
As well educated as you are, it’s clear you never read a history book. A shame.
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Great article, still a lot of air heads that don’t know and didn’t understand than or now. Not sure yet if we were really suppose to be there. Draft was there, but I went ony own. To this Very day, I still have no Love of any kind for those dope addits, pot smoking boneless air heads turned their tail and ran to Canada. In my thoughts they were Nothing but Cowards, and used that junk for an excuse. If they were so Holy and Right ious, why turn your Tail and run and use that for cover. Yellow they were than and Yellow to this day, they still are. Sorry if this Offends them, I care less about them.
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Many of the anti-war protesters were anti-draft, is all. If there had been an all-volunteer army, during VN, there wouldn’t have been the same large protests. I agree many fled to avoid service but, if they had stayed, and more had gone to jail, then, more protests might have resulted in government ending VN, sooner. Look at 9/11 and Iraq invasion, where hardly any protests, even though government lied about WMD, in Iraq, and everyone knew it. Yet, b/c it’s an all-voluntary military, not many protests took place. Many said the volunteers knew what they were signing up for, so………….Xin Loi.
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Myth: Draft Dodgers Protested Against The War
The fact is they protested because they did not want to be inducted into the military. It is worth noting that when the draft was ended by Congress in 1972, anti-war protests almost ceased entirely. Protests after this period were conducted mostly by the hard-core anti-war movement that had close ties to the North Vietnamese Communist Party. For these people, protesting was a job. They derived their income from donations to the movement so despite the fact that the average American male no longer cared about the war (because he was no longer in danger of having to serve), the anti-war cadre continued to protest.
While protesting against the U.S. involvement in Vietnam made some sense for those who were desperately trying to avoid military service, it is not clear why they displayed Viet Cong flags at their rallies and protest marches. People who today claim they were only expressing their conscience cannot explain why they needed to display the flag of the enemy, and burn the American Flag.
The anti-war movement has been often and erroneously referred to as the “Peace” movement. This is a non-sequitar since despite their rhetoric to the contrary, they never actually called for “peace” per se, only an end to American involvement in the war. They actually did not seem to care very much about the poor Vietnamese peasant that they accused American soldiers of killing. Especially if the North Vietnamese and the VC did the killing. And when Pol Pot went on a killing spree, they uttered not a sound. When the North Vietnamese invaded Cambodia, they said not a word. When the Soviets invaded Afganistan the did not protest. Why? Ask them.
The Vietnam War lasted for over 10 years. During that period 58,202 Americans lost their lives in an attempt to preserve the sovereignty of the Republic of Vietnam.
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Agreed. The anti-war protestors, for the most part, were actually only anti-draft. If they weren’t the ones to be in the draft, then, they would not have complained about a war. I still burn at Carter’s amnesty, for those, who fled to Canada. If they had the courage of their so-called, “anti-war” convictions, then, they should have stayed, faced the music and gone to jail. That would have increased the numbers of protestors to include parents and siblings and increased pressure upon politicians to act. Most draft protestors, simply, were afraid to die, but were willing to allow others to do so. My reply to those, who wonder why I went to VN (11B with 1st Cav) is that I can visit the VNM Wall and know that there is no one’s name on it, who may have died, in my place.
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Great article.
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It is strange that while I was in the NAVY (1962-1967)I was issued a service number, but when I went into the ARMY (1976-1991) I had to use my social security number, which was never to be used for identification. And Social Security was to be voluntary as a retirement and never to be taxed. Yet now I receive my Social Security retirement after taxes. Also this money was only for retirement purposes and the Government dips into it as they please. Some for welfare, ( their has never been a welfare tax ) , and who knows what else it is used for? Now they tell us it is going broke. Over the years, how many have died and not collected a cent? We know dead soldiers don’t, and many have died due to accidents. This money is my retirement which I and my employers have paid in. Now the Government tells me it is an entitlement, I don’t think so. They have misappropriated it and now the rest of us are to suffer. I don’t get it.
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Great article. Spells it out quite accurately and I was amidst it, having been born in 1948. I held a student deferment for a year or so but didn’t like school so I enlisted in 1968.
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Pres. Lincoln was drafting for the civil war. Many protested and rioted in New York.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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I didn’t have the money or grades to get into college. At that time in my life, I wanted to be part of something big and the war was the biggest thing going. I enlisted before the first draft in 69. I had a high number so I won’t have been caught up in the draft. But I guessed I would at some point. Got a real low number and would have been called up on the second round; but I was already in with orders for Viet Nam. Knowing what I know now; I would have done the same thing. My military experience was one of the most memorable times of my life.
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Good article and good comments. Me, I knew the war was pure bullshit and the damage we did was reprehensible. Never thought anyone in Congress had any idea. But I was 17, just out of high schooil and not going to college. Drafted, trained, and sent over. What a year! Ambushes, firefights, R&R, war crimes, monsoon, riding slicks with our legs hanging out. For an 18-year kid from an all-white neighborhood, it was a year unlike any other. It was this crazy mixture of blood and guts, close calls,, tragedy, laughs, tears of sadness and frustration. A large chunk of history … and we were right in the middled of it. Eight years ago, I began publishing DD214 Chronicle, a press edition as well as a web page .Uniforms and combat zones change, but war? We love war way too much to give it up. John Tidyman, 11bravo40, 198th LIB, Americal Division. 68-69
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We were dirt poor I was drafted at 18. 1969. You say that only 25 percent went to Vietnam. I say a number of our men were changed from US to RA status at the induction ststion. They got there by being drafted there the recruiter started on you to joint the services for better MOS are to be station else were and not go to Vietnam. It was hard saying no they tore you down ganged up on you. In those stations is were the 25 percent came from. You can tell right off if a man was drafted by the US at the front of his service number. You became and RA if you decided to join . And a large number of draftee’s did. I’m a US a draftee. Now go back and change how many were drafted into the military services. You have to now ask the question were you drafted and joined trying to get a better job (MOS) and not go to Vietnam but most were tricked and still serviced in Vietnam.
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Another of the many . . . Welcomed home after 25 miserable “in the world” years by brother vets. Doing worlds better now.
From the article about Draft during the Vietnam War.
According to Christian Appy in Working-Class War, “most of the Americans who fought in Vietnam were powerless, working-class teenagers sent to fight an undeclared war by presidents for whom they were not even eligible to vote.”
Steve
Mostly at Phu Cat 1970
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Ever notice all these “professors” write their books, but never served? Appy is but one of many. Wouldn’t it be interesting to have him teach a room full of Vietnam veterans?
I love this fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers.
Army, 1971-72, Da Nang
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I remember shortly after starting Basic (Ft. Jackson), two guys waited for the Drill Sergeant to hit the door and they jumped into a rack together. We never saw them again.
Another idiot shot his foot with an M-16 on the rifle range.
You never hear the press or the draft dodgers explain why 91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served and 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome, do you?
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A very good article. I did not see much protesting as I was overseas in 64, 65-66. Came back for 2 1/2 years and then sent overseas again (Vietnam.) See it on TV but not near me. Then I enrolled at University of Arizona in Tucson and protests on campus everyday. Went back to the service and lost sight of protests as I was back to NAM area. The war was over and from what I saw, the protests went away.
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War? What WAR? Was war ever declared? No! ALL “Cold War” Veterans should be Honored, treatment of any veteran at the VA should be equal whether or not we were in a “Combat” zone, to classify a Veteran who volunteered as a level 6 or up for treatment is ludicrous. The VA Sucks.
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It was a half century ago. Get over it.
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Hey man, don’t say something like that. I wasn’t born during the time but a lot of people were, its just something you can get over easily a lot of people didn’t have people to come home to. <any lost their lives you cant get over it easily.
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I’ll give my place, in line, to any vet, with a MOH, a Purple Heart or CIB (Army)/CAR Marine). But, that’s just me (11B, 1st Cav., ’69-’70).
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Where is the fact about the 30,000 soldiers who were sent to someplace.
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Never mind.
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Fair article. I had a deferment from 1966-1970 when I was in college. I planned on getting an occupational deferment after graduating (I was going into teaching and teachers were being refrigerated). However, President Nixon canceled occupational deferments in April of 1970. My lottery number was 175 and my number was being called in June by my draft board. I opted to join the active Army Reserve. I was sworn in on June 10,1970. I got a teaching position and I got married. I was fortunate enough to teach for a whole year (1970-1971 school year). I attended Army Reserve drills during that time. I got my notification that I was to report to basic training in late August of 1971 (right before the start of the new school year.) I spent 10 weeks at Fort Dix , New Jersey going through basic combat training . I then spent November through January at Fort Lee,Va. There I went through the Army’s quartermaster school. I finally got back impeaching job in February of 1972. Once I got back home I resumed my teaching duties and attended Army Reserve Drills. I was discharged from the Army in June of 1976. I am glad that I served. my dad drove a tank in World War ‘ll (he fought in Germany). I do not consider myself to be better than anyone else. I am glad I got a deferment while in college. I am appreciative for the opportunity I had to go to college and I am appreciative for the opportunity to have served in the Army Reserve.
Respectfully,
Edward Gift Hagerstown, Mr.
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Teachers were not refrigerated they got occupational deferments. Just a correction to my account.
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