[Magdalen] Viet Nam Series.

[Joseph Cirou]

-----Original Message-----
>From: Cantor03--- via Magdalen <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
>Sent: Sep 20, 2017 11:03 AM
>To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
>Cc: Cantor03 at aol.com
>Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Viet Nam Series.
>
>
>
>In a message dated 9/20/2017 8:52:20 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
>romanos at mindspring.com writes:
>
>
>I  was either still in seminary or newly ordained. I still recall the 
>funerals.  >>>>>>>>>>>
>
>
>Joe>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 
> 
>I recall vividly the Gulf of Tonkin event in August of 1964.  I had  just
>started what became a long rotation in my UM-Minneapolis residency
>program at the VAMC Minneapolis.  There were three male  residents
>assigned to the VA, and we were all technically available for  induction
>into the Army Forces (the draft resumed within the year, I think),  and
>all of us wailed and shook our heads hoping against hope that the
>authorities would not use this event as an excuse for escalating the
>War/  It was not to be.
> 
>Two of us had small, rural draft boards, and knew the employees
>of each by first name.  We both were able to convince them to  let
>us finish our residencies before allowing us to be drafted.  Thus,  I
>was drafted and then offered a commission as captain in the
>Army Medical Corps in February, 1966.
> 
>The third resident who had a large urban draft board was sucked
>right into the Army and ended up in Viet Nam doing general medical
>work.
> 
>Upon my return from active duty in 1970, I was appointed to the
>Western Wisconsin Draft Appeal Board that mediated draft
>disputes and causes for the western half of Wisconsin.  I thus  had
>a way to thank the draft boards for favors granted earlier.
> 
> 
>David S.
>
>
I was exempt from the draft because of my vocation which made pacifism an awkward option later on in the parish.

Joe