What is the Vietnam Draft?
In 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act which created the country's first peacetime draft. From 1948 until 1973, men were drafted to fill in the armed forces which was not voluntary. There would be lottery drawing that determined the order of call for the induction. 366 blue plastic capsules birth dates were placed in a large jar and drawn by hand to assign order-of-call number to all men within the ages of 18-26.
This gave no man a say in whether or not they wanted to be drafted into the war. Below are some quick articles written based on facts from the Vietnam War and it's outrages stories.
This gave no man a say in whether or not they wanted to be drafted into the war. Below are some quick articles written based on facts from the Vietnam War and it's outrages stories.
Appalling Revelation About the War
In the beginning of the Vietnam War, many journalist supported the war and its efforts. The media’s job was to keep Americans in tune with daily news and maintain optimism, but soon began to show skepticism in the government’s intention during the Vietnam War.
Many journalist began to cast back the doubts that had been rising with the American Public, due to the number of casualties. That is when the media began to expose the truth behind the war and the politics behind it. They could no longer accept press releases from the government and began to investigate for the truth behind the official reports
Many journalist began to cast back the doubts that had been rising with the American Public, due to the number of casualties. That is when the media began to expose the truth behind the war and the politics behind it. They could no longer accept press releases from the government and began to investigate for the truth behind the official reports
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act was unfair to U.S citizens because it forced them to enlist in military service whether they like it or not and if they are noncompliance then they will face prosecution.
The Selective Service Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Wilson on May 18, 1917 to increase the number of soldiers for military service. To register for the draft, you had to be in a certain age requirement, which changes over the years. The Act was unpopular at the beginning because those who were born into a wealthy family were able to hire a substitute to avoid being drafted. Since substitutes were very expensive for those in the lower class, they must go for military service whether they like or not. When the time the Vietnam War was nearing its time for battle, students futures were heading in the direction of military service. This could be avoided if students applied into college and have been accepted, but if they can not pay their fees then they must register for the draft. Even if a students is already in college, they may get drafted if they drop a class due to bad grade. Students have seen this as a threat to their futures and began to rebel against the draft by burning draft papers, writing to the white house of their opinion about the draft, and antiwar protesting near the locations to register for the draft. Students and other antiwar protesters have then been accused of draft offenders and have been convicted.
The Selective Service Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Wilson on May 18, 1917 to increase the number of soldiers for military service. To register for the draft, you had to be in a certain age requirement, which changes over the years. The Act was unpopular at the beginning because those who were born into a wealthy family were able to hire a substitute to avoid being drafted. Since substitutes were very expensive for those in the lower class, they must go for military service whether they like or not. When the time the Vietnam War was nearing its time for battle, students futures were heading in the direction of military service. This could be avoided if students applied into college and have been accepted, but if they can not pay their fees then they must register for the draft. Even if a students is already in college, they may get drafted if they drop a class due to bad grade. Students have seen this as a threat to their futures and began to rebel against the draft by burning draft papers, writing to the white house of their opinion about the draft, and antiwar protesting near the locations to register for the draft. Students and other antiwar protesters have then been accused of draft offenders and have been convicted.
Poetry In The Vietnam War
Poetry was a way for soldiers to express themselves by writing about the struggles and experiences they faced in the war. They wrote about almost anything, from what they heard, seen, or smelled. Poetry was also a way for the troops to get their mind off of the battlefield. It was entertainment to them. Many of the poems that these soldiers have written were published. Some poems that the soldiers wrote were not able to be published because the soldier who wrote it died. Poetry was a stress reliever and the only thing that could occupy their time. Poetry was relevant to the Vietnam War.
Public Reactions to the War
When the war started, people didn't know what to think. Some thought that it was Vietnam's civil war, and the US had no reason to interfere. Others thought that it was a wealthy super power fighting a third world country, and that it would be a quick victory. But a quick victory it was not, and the draft began to take more and more soldiers into the war; the war was becoming a problem in the US. Not only the draft, but the media displaying uncensored and uncontrolled visuals of the war. This was the average family's first time looking into the heart of war, and they were shocked. They had no idea how to react to what they were being shown every night. All they knew was that the war was doing a lot more damage than good.
The Wounded Soldier
My point across is to persuade you that their is no one in the war that has gone into the fire fight and came back to the United States not fully scarred, but to say that the war does affect people and their families. My essay is a biography about my uncle Jose Gigantoni Gonzales and what he saw and witnessed who he met and what he did to stay alive. Not only what my uncle went through and how he got through it, but what he thinks of it and how it affected him as a general person.