To thop - wish you had more questions or comments on the issues raised in my story or in the letters that followed, rather than the timeline of my service. I appreciate my wife wanting to come to my defense - she has no reason to stretch the truth - all is as she said. I was drafted in ‘67 straight out of college with a straight A average - true. I was 19 when I was drafted into the Army and 21 when I was honorably discharged. No deferment for me. I lived in Chicago then and the Army needed to fill a quota - it’s that simple. It was pretty hard to get a college deferment at that time - maybe you don’t remember that. Even married men were getting drafted in ‘67. If you were able-bodied, you were fair game. Anyway, the Dean argued on my behalf but it did no good.
I did basic training and AIT stateside and arrived in Nam in time for the Tet Offensive - like you. No, I wasn’t a Green Beret - there were a lot of special forces that weren’t Green Beret. My infantry’s special forces had sustained heavy casualties so upon my arrival, my infantry assigned me to train with the Black Tiger Division from Korea. We spent time in the highlands with the First Air Cav and then back South to the Delta running recon missions. Unfortunately, “thop”, my memory is all to good. Thanks for the welcome home - can’t hear that enough.
Posted on December 12 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To thop - wish you had more questions or comments on the issues raised in my story or in the letters that followed, rather than the timeline of my service. I appreciate my wife wanting to come to my defense - she has no reason to stretch the truth - all is as she said. I was drafted in ‘67 straight out of college with a straight A average - true. I was 19 when I was drafted into the Army and 21 when I was honorably discharged. No deferment for me. I lived in Chicago then and the Army needed to fill a quota - it’s that simple. It was pretty hard to get a college deferment at that time - maybe you don’t remember that. Even married men were getting drafted in ‘67. If you were able-bodied, you were fair game. Anyway, the Dean argued on my behalf but it did no good.
I did basic training and AIT stateside and arrived in Nam in time for the Tet Offensive - like you. No, I wasn’t a Green Beret - there were a lot of special forces that weren’t Green Beret. My infantry’s special forces had sustained heavy casualties so upon my arrival, my infantry assigned me to train with the Black Tiger Division from Korea. We spent time in the highlands with the First Air Cav and then back South to the Delta running recon missions. Unfortunately, “thop”, my memory is all to good. Thanks for the welcome home - can’t hear that enough.
Elton
On There is no right or wrong on soldier drug use