I could have gone to canada, I could have stayed in school
Comment on Anon describes past
DesolateMood@lemm.ee 2 months ago
There is no war in Vietnam
PornPlane@lemmynsfw.com 2 months ago
Comment on Anon describes past
DesolateMood@lemm.ee 2 months ago
There is no war in Vietnam
I could have gone to canada, I could have stayed in school
steeznson@lemmy.world 2 months ago
They were calling citizens in alternating groups of SSNs like a lottery. When it was my Dad’s buddy’s turn to show up for the medical he thought he’d fake extreme scoliosis, slouched one shoulder back and down, then half limped into the doctors office.
He was never even asked to take his shirt off and got excused on medical grounds.
Formfiller@lemmy.world 2 months ago
He is a trump republican now I’m sure
steeznson@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Not sure if Trump even got examined when he got his medical exemption
bnrnrtbgd@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
How did you hear about this? Seems a bit odd he’d brag about it over 50 years later. Yeah, son, I faked a condition to get out of the war like a total coward. Don’t think I’m any less of a badass though. I’m still a total badass.
AFaithfulNihilist@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Not wanting to bomb brown people in the name of fascism is quite a far cry from being a coward.
Vietnam should not have been invaded. Not wanting to participate in that shit show is just a reasonable moral decision.
steeznson@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I think if you asked the dude he’d admit he was doing it out of self-preservation as opposed to a moral stance.
He’s got a fascinating life story: His father was upper class in Russia in the early 20th C. and got drafted into the red army at the start of WW2 as an officer, but got captured by nazis and defected. When Berlin fell his father deserted, married the first German girl he saw and they emmigrated to the USA. My Dad’s friend was literally born on the boat over.
His father was highly educated but due to being in the two least popular armies in US history he had yearly visits from the intelligence services. Wasn’t allowed to get a good job and spent his entire life shifting chemical drums while the family grew up in poverty in New Jersey.
steeznson@lemmy.world 2 months ago
My Dad did a student elective in New York in 1977 as part of his medical degree. Met a few friends he’s been lifelong pals with and he talks about then often.
This guy’s name is Al and they are still pen pals to this day. I think he was a philosophy major so my Dad was impressed he could fake a condition so well (aside from just being impressed by the ballsiness of lying to the authorities to avoid fighting in an unjust war).
laserm@lemmy.world 1 month ago
There’s nothing honorable on killing and dying for no reason.