JohnSwanda wrote:
US Army 1971-1974. I was graduating college and had a low draft number, so I signed up for Officer Candidate School and became a 2nd lieutenant, and left as a 1st lieutenant after my two year commitment was up. Vietnam was winding down and there were enough career officers volunteering, so I didn't have to go.
Pretty much the same for me in the Marine Corps. I was commissioned in Jan ‘69 and went active in April. Did a couple of schools…including the Army Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK…and some time attached to the Sixth Fleet floating around on the Atlantic with NATO Forces. During that time I had Vietnam orders three separate times and they were canceled each time. By the time I got back to the States things were slowing down and like you they were only sending the guys who were staying in…they needed to “check the box” or their careers would be over real soon. I was offered the opportunity to go if I wanted to but I turned it down.