Draft Evaders

[Salty]

This may be one of the hardest question, I have ever posed.
During Vietnam - many young men avoided the draft and went to Canada.
What are your thoughts about their decision?
Was Ford wrong in granting amnesty.

Please indicate if you are Active/Veteran/Dependent - or never served.

 

[OldRegular]

This may be one of the hardest question, I have ever posed.
During Vietnam - many young men avoided the draft and went to Canada.
What are your thoughts about their decision?
Was Ford wrong in granting amnesty.

Please indicate if you are Active/Veteran/Dependent - or never served.

I am a veteran of the Korean era and I believe Ford was wrong!

 

[just-want-peace]

I am a veteran of the Korean era and I believe Ford was wrong!

I am a vet - '62-'64 - and I fully agree.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I fought in Viet Nam from 71 thru to the end.

I think President Ford was right. Viet Nam was a mistake from the beginning. The people who got us into it should have needed a pardon after they spent time in jail.

Should they have gone to Canada? No. They could and should have served in some ways or gone thru the hassle of becoming a Conscientious Objector. But President Ford was right in choosing to amnesty them.

 

[Salty]

I had orders to Nam (Apr '71) When I arrived in Oakland, it was determined our MOS was not need. Execpt for a few guys who had volunteered, our entire training company was diverted to Germany. Now, my view - by that time, politics had been the major force of the "police action" and with no dertimination of real victory, ( as there had been in WW II) I can understand why they may have wanted to evade the draft. Ford said the reason for amensty was to heal the nations wounds. - The reason I startd this thread was a Love Boat eposide where a disabled Vet and draft doger met each other at a high school reunion. The dodger apoligized to the Vet - accpeted. At the end of the show - the Vet hired the dodger to head the personel section of his company with the mission of hiring as many disaabled vets as possible.

 

[carpro]

This may be one of the hardest question, I have ever posed.
During Vietnam - many young men avoided the draft and went to Canada.
What are your thoughts about their decision?
Was Ford wrong in granting amnesty.

Please indicate if you are Active/Veteran/Dependent - or never served.

They were , and still are, cowards.

Ford was wrong in doing it so soon, but I understand his reasons. I believe he should have made them live with the fruits of their cowardice for a few more years.

Vietnam vet 68-69