VIETNAM VETERANS GET MEDALS FOR HEROIC ACTIONS...

[karynnj]

20. "Many" needs definition

One estimate is that there were about 3 million soldiers who served - most of whom were drafted. I don't know the total of those who went to jail, but I think it was very small - not even a big part of those who did not go.

As I noted there were people who avoided the draft but even if you look at this page that lists many ways to do it -- most of the ones that left you in reasonable standing in your community were doable only for those with education or connections - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_dodger

One thing I should have said was for the guys my age, JUST going to college in 1968 completely changed your chances enormously. The draft in 1968 and 1969 was pulling in huge numbers of men -- by 1972, when they would have graduated, there was a lottery and most guys knew they would not be called. The small number with low numbers, could apply to graduate school, get an exempt job or (like Cheney) get married and become a father.

Note that this was 1967. These were kids raised in the 1950s, right after WWII. Look back - even at the rhetoric of JFK - pay any price, bear any burden?? You can point to some antiwar speeches - notably MLK jr - but they were not yet where even a significant part of the country was.