the draft was in force until late 1973 I believe.

the draft was in force until late 1973 I believe. Since Bret is now ca 71 (forgive me if he is still 70 as he reportedly was at the time the picture of his exterior project was posted(or was that almost 2 years ago), without a college deferment he would be 18 in 1969 or 1970. The war ended ca August 1975.

Mits can provide the latest info possibly, but I've read the judgment centers of the brain are not fully developed until age 20.

So, what a time to be tossed into a completely foreign environment and daily destruction just out of high school and boot camp for most.

But right or wrong thats what empires do- fight wars-usually for expansion- and then the expense of wars-with the lower military economic multiplier (2.2 last i knew-who knows what it was in different eras)) slows the empire (vs a 3.3 civilian multiplier last i knew).
If empires didnt get greedy they would fare much better.

If japan had not foolishly attacked pearl harbor etc and the usa stayed out of the war the western allies likely would have lost. Churchill was glad when pearl harbor occurred -from that point on he knew the war would be won.
same pattern repeats throughout much of history.

Anyway, thats why UK and USA have been under such a non-natural attack since- to weaken them from within, so they could not be used to win a future war when a madman who wants to control the world makes his next try.

sorry if i waxed too poetic for some -not much else transpiring on this board
Happy xmas etc