I was a college student during much of the Vietnam war. I opposed it and joined protests against it. Not much to tell about that.

The other side I’m hearing now is from the wife of a Vietnam veteran, who notes that ( I assume because there was so much opposition ) the community was not glad that he served and did not welcome him back when he returned. The free meals and stuff being offered now do not appeal to him and do not begin to make up for 50 years of indifference and worse.

What I remember most from that time in my life was the birthday draft pick. I remember listening to it on the radio, and hoping my boyfriend’s birthday would be one of the last ones drawn. It was.

We eventually married and still are. How many lives must have been shattered by having the wrong birthday, and being sent to fight that war.