[kabar]

23 Apr 70 - President Nixon calls for far-reaching draft reform. Nixon also issued an Executive Order that ended all occupational deferments and most paternity deferments, with "extreme hardship" as the only exception.

April 30, 1971 - The last U.S. Marine combat units depart Vietnam.

After five deferments since 1965, Blumenthal joined the USMC in April 1970. His chances of going to Vietnam were nil.

[centurion316]

April 30, 1971 - The last U.S. Marine combat units depart Vietnam.

My infantry battalion (2d Bn, 1st Infantry Regiment)replaced the 5th Marine Regiment in Danang in June, 1971. We ran some joint operations in order to get to know their AO. Whoever came up with that date, must have forgotten to tell those Marines that they had already left.

Your point is right on the money, Blumenthal was never at risk of having to go and he damn well knew it.