I graduated high school in 1967, waited 2 weeks and enlisted in the army. I accepted I was going to Viet Nam, everybody I knew was going or had gone, friends and relatives, some had not come back alive or whole.
Basic training was filled with a great mixture of people I couldn't believe! To many it was a big joke! Believe me I was paying attention like my life depended on it! I really figured it did. Well, long story short, I was on orders 6 different times! And every time something happened and I was deleted or my orders were cancelled. I never requested to be removed or taken off, I think it was a higher power looking out for our troops!
At heart, I did not fear Charlie half as much as I fear snakes, so God knows me pretty good and he figures, "I better keep this guy out of Viet Nam because one of those snakes crawls across his path - he'll light it up and give away his units position and get some guys hurt really bad." I say that half joking, but that scenario has played out in my mind many times since that 18 year old kid took the oath in 67.
Seriously I have no idea why I did not go. I went in knowing I was going and there was a good chance I would not be coming back. 20 years and 18 days later I left the army. After Nam shut down I looked at every day like it was gravy or a free day. I still look at every day like it is a gift. Every once in awhile I even see a snake, that's not so bad if the mower is running! Still don't like those damned snakes.
My thanks goes to all of you who did serve in country, Thank You! I still feel like I should have gone, I felt like it was my duty. My Dad who served in WWII, cautioned me about volunteering, he felt like I had stretched it by enlisting in the first place. And Thanks to all who were in the same situation as me, at least we were ready!