Interesting, deep, and reflective thread indeed.

I couldn't wait to sign up and get on with it in '67, considering the formidable VC Foe an acceptable alternative to another year of confrontation with Mrs. Herrmann, the Algebra Teacher, and her Husband "Pete", the Principal.

The "Cause" was, as I recall, somewhat secondary; my young and ignorant heart had just been broken for about the 6th time by the same girl, and the passage of an AK round through it didn't seem all that bad by comparison. As luck would have it, orders for DaNang were changed shortly before departure to Kimpo, Korea. Although things were decidedly tense there, too, the ordnance was not being exchanged quite as actively, and I returned intact. As it always seems to go, far better men than I who had so much more to live for.... did not.

Having gotten into the belly of the dragon and associated with a lot of the fellows who had seen the elephant much more intimately than I in Country (and had the scars to prove it), I came away with a considerably more tolerant attitude toward those who excersized alternative options when the "call" came. There were prices to be paid no matter where we turned - even, I opine, by those who exploited wealth or priviledge to escape the wrath of Mars.

I'm glad that Pres. Carter extended amnesty to those who split, and I hope that their family and pals were able to forgive them, if there were any hard feelings. I hope they forgave themselves. Had I known in '67 what I knew in '70, I'm not sure but what I might have done things differently.

I rather admire the Quaker way; In WWI a number of them appantly worked out a deal with the Military so that they could be considered "Conciencious Objectors" and not forced to bear arms or fight, but were issued distinctive gray uniforms and served as Medics and Nurses. They did so with courage and distinction, many making the "supreme sacrifice" along with the combattants. One of the local "Friends" centers in Durham, ME, was used as an "underground railroad station" for escaping unwilling Draftees, and the Elder I spoke with related bundling some of the terrified, confused young men up in his VW bug at 3:00 in the Maine Winter Mornings to smuggle them North to a freedom which the "Land of the Free" seemed so anxious to deprive them of for no other reason that they could not shed the blood of a fellow human being with whom they had no quarrel.

The Libertarians mention in their litterature (which, by the way condemns the practice of the draft) that "Slaves generally make poor Warriors". Makes sense to me, Mates.