You won't be going to Vietnam
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (343145)
Rockingham, Australia
July 2, 2020 7:55pm CST
Going through some files yesterday, I came across the above document which says that my husband, Vince, escaped being drafted into the services and so was exempted from going to Vietnam. National conscription had been brought into Australia some years before but, in 1966, it was announced that units would be sent to South Vietnam to fight with the Australian Regular Army and for secondment to American forces.
Selection of conscripts was by drawing a birth date from a hat and if your birthday happened to fall on that day you were destined for the army. Apparently the dates were announced over the radio and families would be glued to their radio sets waiting to hear the dates.
Conscription ended in December 1972. Of the 63,735 national servicemen who served in the Army, 15,381 were deployed to Vietnam. Many of those who returned are still trying to recover from the experience.
25 people like this
22 responses
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
3 Jul 20
That appears to be a big struggle
3 people like this
@JudyEv (343145)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jul 20
@amitkokiladitya Yes, that's true but Vietnam should never have happened really.
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv I guess every war is a tragic event
2 people like this
@arunima25 (88000)
• Bangalore, India
3 Jul 20
Vince had a lucky escape. Stories from Vietnam come out so shocking and heart breaking. Soilders have carried on a mental agony for long even after they left the place.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (88000)
• Bangalore, India
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv Vietnam war has been the most tragic event in war history. A few years back my husband visited the place. He was into tears literally to see the War memorial there. The place is simply beautiful and he was actually very touched by the simplicity and honesty of people there.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
3 Jul 20
I have my grandfather's WWI paperwork and my father's discharge papers. That is such a cool letter!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (343145)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jul 20
@DocAndersen Do you have any photos?
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
4 Jul 20
@JudyEv i actually have his service guide (a small book) and his service bible. He was in the 101st cavalry 1918.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (224172)
• Chile
3 Jul 20
Even unreal movies about the Vietnam was are too painful to be seen. I´m glad that your husband didn´t go. But problems should not be turned into wars.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (224172)
• Chile
4 Jul 20
@JudyEv There are many moving films with that subject. But it did not have to happen.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (113111)
• El Paso, Texas
3 Jul 20
In California they did the same thing, many brave soldiers upon their return were spit upon and booed as they got off the planes @JudyEv Vietnam vets had a hard time reintegrating into US society once they got back. I did hear that those soldiers lucky enough to be brought into other areas weren't met with that much disdain but none received a heroes welcome. Here in El Paso we have a lot of Vietnam vets and none of them want to have anything to do with California.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv
I cannot remember if the American ones wanted to go,but, they thought they would get a better homecoming than they received. Here in Israel our guys go to the Army not only for their families, but, for this country and the citizens. They are very proud soldiers and we welcome them back when they come home if they fight not on our land.
1 person likes this
@nitirrbb7 (4317)
• India
4 Jul 20
I don't understand why leave our own country and fight in some other, we are supposed to serve and protect our nation why go and die serving others land?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (343145)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 20
@nitirrbb7 Our soldiers are still fighting overseas in Afghanistan and other countries.
1 person likes this
@nitirrbb7 (4317)
• India
4 Jul 20
@JudyEv Seriously! soldiers are humans not machines place them anywhere the authority wishes. I hope now they don't do all that? Serving the Army is Pride but just for our own Motherland.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
3 Jul 20
Vince was indeed lucky. Many who came back here, are likewise still carrying the mental scars from their experiences there. I joined the services, and never left the states. I am not complaining about that. They wanted me to re-enlist at the end of my term, I said no, thank you, and went into college instead.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv By the end of the Vietnam War, a returning veteran here was more like to be spit upon rather than welcomed. Sometimes there were people in the lobbies of airports screaming "Baby Killers" or some such. Here in the US at its end, that war was very unpopular. I do not understand why the soldiers were thought responsible. They only did their duty, They were drafted and had the choice of fleeing the country or doing what they were drafted to do. Most followed the rules. Others burned their draft cards and ran away to Canada. I remember watching this stuff on the news. Right after I joined, President Nixon killed the draft in the US. (It was my 12th day of basic training.)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (343145)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jul 20
@cperry2 That's what happened in Australia. They were brought home through the back door, not given a welcome or any recognition. Like your soldiers, they didn't ask to go. They had no option. It was very bad. No wonder they had such mental issues later.
2 people like this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv I guess I was lucky because I missed all of that, never leaving the states, I barely left the State of Texas where I was living when I entered. But being in the Air Force would have kept me away from most of the fighting I think. Rules have changed since I was in though. Nowadays, it makes no difference what branch of service one is in, they are all being sent on tours into hot spots.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
3 Jul 20
People were sent to Vietnam to fight in a war that has nothing to do with them.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
4 Jul 20
@JudyEv no one wins in a war.
Those that win are venture capitalists that fund the war.
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
4 Jul 20
That may be really traumatic. Hopefully, it will not happen soon.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (343145)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 20
Did you read the text? This all happened back in 1967. 
@JudyEv (343145)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 20
It's good he was exempted. It wasn't a good war to be involved in.
@wolfgirl569 (109304)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Jul 20
Glad he didnt have to go. Hubby still sometimes has bad dreams from being there.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (109304)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv Hubby is not too bad. It just sometimes comes back
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
3 Jul 20
Vince is lucky that he was not sent to Vietnam. There are so many horror tales on the experience of soldiers there.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv Vietnam was hell in those times.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183775)
• United States
3 Jul 20
I'm glad your husband didn't have to go to Vietnam. My husband served in Korea around 1962-1965.
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