I never served in the military. The draft was on in my day
and I was in the last cohort that received a deferment because we went to
college. When my number was drawn, it was very low—30—which meant, without the
deferment, I would have been called very quickly. I remember the day they drew
my number. I did something I never did before or since. I walked off my summer
job—just told my boss I was leaving and left. I drove around the Kansas countryside
to decide what I should do. If I passed the physical, I would have been in
uniform in a few months. Perhaps I should enlist. Could I get into the National
Guard? My dad served in WWII; shouldn’t I go too? He waited to be drafted and I
knew he didn’t want me to volunteer. How would I do? Could I handle the
discipline? How would I react if I were in combat? I was confused. Finally, I
decided that since I didn’t have to go right then, I wouldn’t. The deferment
made me ineligible for the draft until I graduated unless I quit school, became
a part-time student, or fell below a 2.0 gpa. Also, I was a ministry student;
they had special deferments for ministers and student ministers. Should I sign
up for one of those? I just didn’t feel right about taking ministerial student
route. I was not a conscientious objector. I didn’t like the idea of fighting,
but I knew that I would, if I had to. I just didn’t know how well I would
fight. I decided I would use the regular student deferment and, after I
graduated I would decide. But when I graduated the war was over. I was never
called and the draft ended.
I have always liked reading history and I have read a lot
about war. I stand in awe of the guys who have been in combat, especially those
who have fought bravely. I’ve always wondered how I would react in combat.
Would I stand strong? Would I curl up in the fetal position? Would I become a
homicidal maniac? Or would I run away? I will never know. I’m kind of glad of
that. I’m grateful to the men that faced an enemy so that I never had to. It’s
right to celebrate these fellows (and in recent years, ladies) and the
sacrifices they have made: in their bodies, in their psyches, of their time,
and in their families.
About 10 years ago I was called to officiate at a funeral
for a man I knew as a stroke victim. He was only a couple of years older than
me, about 55 when he passed. He had been confined to a wheelchair for a number
of years since his stroke. He seemed like a great guy, but he had a hard time
communicating because the stroke had affected his speech as well as his
mobility. He was a Viet Nam veteran so there would be military honors. It
turned out he was quite a vet. He was a genuine hero. Six guys from his unit
showed up and told stories of him that he had never spoken of, even to his
sister. They had been a special reconnaissance team and spent a lot of time
behind enemy lines. This guy that I knew as a cripple had earned a bronze star
and a couple of other high honors on the field. At the funeral, these men had wonderful
things to share about his bravery. I felt inadequate to say anything worthy of
this man. He had gone to war because he was called. I had not because I was not
called. He learned some things about himself that I can never find out about
myself. I still feel a great deal of gratitude toward him and all the vets.
I travel a lot and when I see someone in uniform at an
airport, I always try to thank them for service. It’s not much, but it’s way
better than the reception Viet Nam era guys got. Veterans are among us and not
distinguished by uniform, so these remarks are the best way I know to thank
them.
Thank you veterans and God bless you. If I knew how to
salute, I would salute you now.
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