ABSTRACT
Many paths to Vietnam evolved for the combat soldier. As in many conflicts, many volunteered for service, especially in the early stages of the war, driven by patriotism, economic opportunity, and sometimes a choice of jail or the military. Ultimately, only a small fraction of the Vietnam generation, approximately 2.5 million Americans, went to Vietnam. The draft constituted an important factor for young men during the Vietnam War, including many who volunteered. The draft notice arrived very quickly when a person lost his deferment after flunking out of school, being dismissed for disciplinary reasons, or taking off some time to earn money. Movies also played a part in building the national political culture that shaped many people, especially in relation to gender roles. Men who served in Vietnam as military chaplains were not grunts, exactly, but many served alongside them, and all of them voluntarily. Since the American Civil War, ministers, priests, and seminarians have been exempt from the draft.
