Replies

"most young men from that generation were more than willing to serve their country on a voluntary basis."

Another myth, I'm afraid. Draft-dodging was a fine art during WW II. Read any of Paul Fussell's excellent books (especially "DOING BATTLE")

Draft-dodging was a fine art during WW II. Read any of Paul Fussell's excellent books (especially "DOING BATTLE")

Burkett's book supports what you say. According to Burkett ("Stolen Valor"), the volunteer to conscript ratio was *higher* in Vietnam than either WWII or Korea.

I mean no disrespect to you if you're a Vietnam veteran, but I based my feeling on the very unscientific method of personally speaking to vets of World War II and Vietnam. I have yet to personally meet a World War II vet who was drafted, or one who talked disparagingly of the military. Sadly, I have met many, many Vietnam veterans who were unwilling draftees who bitch constantly of the military. Now as the author of "Stolen Valor" has often pointed out, many of the so-called "Vietnam Vets" were not really vets.

Also, I have researched the "numbers" and they definitely point to you being right in your assertion...it's just that my personal experience with veterans from the two wars has been very different.