Like many issues regarding the Vietnam Era (1964-1975) misconceptions persist. Some are actually perpetuated to promote an antiwar agenda or ideology. Others represent just plain myths – Hyperbole to support a viewpoint. A case in point, the draftee issue became a major factor in LBJ’s failure to run for reelection in 1968 and contributed to Nixon’s defeat of Humphrey. The draftee controversy became a hallmark of the antiwar fever sweeping the nation.
I’ll try to sort out the facts out the best I can since some statistics vary and others are skewed by “volunteers” who avoided the draft by enlisting in the USAF or Navy. Most draftees served in the Army, a few in the Marines. I’ll strive to present the facts objectively about a subject that is emotionally loaded. Vietnam was not a warm and fuzzy story. Overall, draftees made up about a third of those serving in the Vietnam Era.
It’s important that the subject be viewed in the context of the Cold War mindset. The threat of nuclear war pervaded America at that time and Communism was considered an existential threat during the Truman/Eisenhower administrations. JFK inherited that concept and introduced military advisors in South Vietnam in 1961 to prevent the “Domino Theory,” the threat of SE Asia becoming communist if North Vietnam took over the South. That was the pretext for our military involvement. We were there first as advisors in 1961, then later on Vietnam became “our war” with LBJ’s escalation in March1965 as Marines landed in Danang. That’s the historical background that you must understand to help fathom Vietnam’s complexity. There was a lot going on in the world at that time besides Vietnam.
Over nine million served during the Vietnam Era, but only 2,709,915 served IN UNIFORM, IN COUNTRY (Vietnam) during that period. Of those, only one of five served in a ground combat role (Army & Marines). If you include close air support, spotters and helicopter rescue operations, that number rises to about a third who faced the risk of enemy fire.
Another half million served offshore or in Laos, Cambodia, South China Sea, or in Thailand and PI.
What about the draftees? How did they fit into this picture?
Of the over nine million servicemen and women, only a third were actually involved in some role in Vietnam during that period. Of those drafted, 2.2 million total, only 37% served in Vietnam (648,500), but accounted for 25% of our casualties since 30.4 % served in combat roles that entailed hostile exposure. (Quora). That is the vital statistic that fueled the antiwar protests. But, it is important to note that only a little over a third of those drafted were actually posted to Vietnam to face those odds. It’s a myth that “all” or “most” draftees were sent to Vietnam as “cannon fodder.” If you were drafted, you faced a little over one third chance of going to Vietnam, and if posted there, less than a third of a chance of being in a combat role. But, if unlucky, you had a higher chance of getting killed because of combat exposure.
Given those statistics, naturally many of draft age wanted to avoid the draft. Vietnam was not an ideological concept for them so much as the fear of dying in a war that was poorly understood at that time, as it continues to be even now. What recourse did they have?
Some volunteered for “less risky “jobs than those entailed in the Army or Marines. Others dodged the draft or deserted, (over 300,000 people). It’s estimated that thirty to fifty thousand of them fled to Canada. It also remains a bone of contention that 15.4 million people were granted deferment for hardship, mental or physical disability or education. That bred resentment for preferential treatment for those perceived to have “connections” despite the fact that many claims were legitimate.
So there you have an overview of the discourse and background in the 1960’s that fractured our country in the late 1960’s leading to the political polarization persistent until today in our nation. I hope that helps you understand how we evolved to this point in our divisive society. Resentment dies hard. Mindsets are unlikely to be persuaded to change. We are what we have become, for better or worse.
For a better understanding of these divisive issues I urge you to read my historical narrative, RECALL. I researched the Vietnam War and cultural revolution extensively for several years before writing the story. I served as a flight surgeon in Vietnam and returned to the social chaos in San Francisco after my tour. Most vets did not talk about the war for years because of the shabby treatment greeting them upon their return. But, now many are trying to pass on the lessons learned from our experience to younger generations, half of whom were not born in the sixties. We owe it to our great nation. History is a powerful teacher. Heed its lessons.
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Feel free to take a look around my website. It has previews, reviews, excerpts and more blogs about Vietnam.
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