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Title: Conscription Equals Slavery: My Time in the Army
Source:
Lew Rockwell
URL Source: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2019/02 ... s-slavery-my-time-in-the-army/
Published: Feb 25, 2019
Author: Gary D. Barnett
Post Date: 2019-02-25 09:56:35 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 2171
Comments: 26
It was a stressful evening sitting in front of the television set on August 5, 1971 with my parents, brother, and sister. It was very quiet and the mood was somber, as my family worried about my fate. The horrible program looked more like a bingo game show than what it actually was; a possible two year sentence of slavery to the state during the Vietnam War. If chosen in this lottery, I was to be drafted into the Army. Irony at this dark level is like a macabre nightmare, especially for the young and naïve. If my number were drawn early, I would be ordered to report for “duty” the following spring. We were huddled together with fingers crossed, anxious in hopes of being there until late in the night, but unfortunately we did not have to wait long. My number was drawn 2nd, and then there was silence. The next few months were wrought with worry as a decision had to be made about my impending incarceration. My father told me at the outset that I should do what I felt was right, and live with my decision. He was very wise and always supportive, and this helped me gain confidence and courage. Mine is not a story of war and killing, or of valor in the face of great danger, it is one of personal rebellion. As I saw it at the time, I had three choices. I could go to Canada to escape the draft, I could simply refuse to go at all and face prison, or I could go into the Army and wreak as much havoc as possible. I had no money, contacts, or job in Canada, and prison for me was out of the question. So I chose to go into the Army, but with an attitude of complete indignation. I did not waste any time. Within the first few minutes after arriving at the Memphis reception center, I stood and declared that I would never kill anyone in Vietnam. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and just stared at me. I was scared to death, but whether they thought I was serious, insincere, or just plain crazy my rant was quickly ignored. What a relief! I already abhorred war, and understood the deceitful nature of the state, and as I soon discovered, this put me in the extreme minority. I was older than most there, 20 at the time, and had been taught by my father not to trust government, something for which I am forever grateful. So it was on to Fort Polk, Louisiana, the hellhole of the Army, for basic training. And yes, it was very unpleasant. As seems to be my personality, I used any and all adversity to get stronger and educate myself about life and my surroundings. I found that helped me to stay focused on important matters. I met several honorable men, and of course some who could not wait to go to war to kill. This was only three years before the war ended, and troops were already being sent home, with fewer and fewer new recruits going to Vietnam. The risk was still evident, but not as much as it had been earlier. I tried to cause as many problems as I could during basic training, with the knowledge that antagonizing drill sergeants in the Army is a very dangerous thing to do. I had my moments, especially considering one particular recruit who was mentally retarded in my estimation, and had no business being there. He was an innocent soul, but he was abused and intimidated constantly by not only a particular DI, but by several of his fellow soldiers. I took it upon myself to protect him as much as I could, a difficult chore to be sure, but he managed to get out mostly unscathed. I finished my time there with the highest shooting score in the company, and the second highest physical training score. As I learned later, this was not the best thing to do given that troops were still being sent to Vietnam. What I did not realize at the time is that one of my drill sergeants was to become an angel on my shoulder. I was told I would get orders to go to Fort Benning, Georgia for Advanced Individual Training and then Army Airborne School. I know this sounds contradictory given my hatred of war, but the competition and training was what I sought. This could have turned out badly for me, but for the unknown caring of one drill sergeant. On the last day when I got my orders, they were for me to report after a two-week leave to a cushy stateside location and a job doing a “civilian acquired trade” that I had absolutely zero ability to do. This puzzled me. I went to my drill sergeant and asked him what was going on, and he said he had my orders changed. He told me if I did go for advanced training at Benning, I would be sent to Vietnam, even though the war was winding down. He said there is no reason to die now. I think he had finally realized the real nature of war, even though he continued to train soldiers. He knew of my position on Vietnam, and also that I could be very dangerous if put in any situation where I had to choose whom to protect in war. It would always be the innocent, not the warmongers. He was much wiser than I had once thought, and I will never forget him for what he did for me. I still have his picture with my unit in my home, and I have never forgotten his name. The rest is history as they say. I was sent to a misfit unit with only 52 personnel for the remaining time in the Army. After causing as much trouble as possible, including at one point pinning a sergeant between my forklift blades and threatening him, things seemed to come to a head. A captain who was tired of the war and military, and was leaving the Army within days, saved me that time, and I mellowed a bit after that. In today’s world, I would have been jailed on multiple occasions, but I must have been lucky. I was told to never come to any formation, or base inspections. I was given an assignment to pick up a truck in the morning, go to work off base, and had little contact with the higher-ranking members of my unit. I was mostly left alone until my time was over. There were some things I did that were unbelievable considering today’s standards, but I made it through unscathed, and with a much better understanding of the horrendous mindset of the military. I have many stories to remember, too many to mention here, and they give me much entertainment, but I would never choose to do it over. Conscription is slavery, and should never raise its ugly head again! Slavery by any name is an assault on mankind, and there is no place for such heinous behavior by any civilized people. Some might think my trouble making and bad attitude was immature and not called for, but as far as I was concerned, being held against my will due to being conscripted by the state gave me every right to cause harm. I did so and never regretted it once. I think those draftees around me who were too afraid to act on their real feelings appreciated my contempt. This was enough incentive for me to rebel against authority and enslavement by the military state, as I do not believe in either. More rebellion and less apathy would be a giant step forward today.
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#1. To: Deckard, Cynicom (#0)
This brought to mind some comments from LP and 4um by Cynicom (I think it was him) about seeing men who were resisting the draft and who were dragged off in chains during the Korean War. That has been many years since he posted about it. I see he last posted over at 4um in July 2018. The real question is whether we believe we can and should drag people away in chains to force them to fight for the alleged "national interest" (as defined by our ruling classes and "independent press", none of whom will ever allow their own kids to get near any danger for the "national interest", come hell or high water).
I thought I would mention that I am among those who were never required to sign up for the draft. For many years, I thought that there were only a few months of birthdates that were not required to register for the draft but it turns out that it was a considerably longer period of young men having no draft to register for (even if they were willing to register). SSS.gov (official U.S. Selective Service website) Well, it is a footnote to the history of the draft. If it is of no other interest, LF readers can largely deduce my age from my mention of this personal biographical detail.
Too young to go to Vietnam anyway. Would probably have gone to Germany to drink beer.
I always considered Lew Rockwell to be a little light in the loafers,as well as a coward hiding behind pacifism,but the above and what followed is an OUTRIGHT LIE that makes me question if he was even drafted. NOBODY has EVER been send the Airborne School at Ft.Benning,Georgia that did not only volunteer to go,but who had to volunteer to take a special PT test to prove they might be able to finish the course. Not even ONE person since the school was started in the late-30's or ever early 40's. I know this to be a FACT because *I* am one of the thousands that volunteered to go to Airborne School,and I had to take the special PT test to prove I had the endurance to compete the training. I know this sounds contradictory given my hatred of war, but the competition and training was what I sought. This could have turned out badly for me, but for the unknown caring of one drill sergeant. On the last day when I got my orders, they were for me to report after a two-week leave to a cushy stateside location and a job doing a “civilian acquired trade” that I had absolutely zero ability to do. This puzzled me. More lies,invented as a cover story to explain why he was never assigned to an airborne unit. Don't believe me? Ask ANYBODY that has ever been in the army if a Staff Sgt at a training command has the pull to get assigned to a " cushy stateside location and a job doing a “civilian acquired trade”. Or anywhere else,AFATG. He knew of my position on Vietnam, and also that I could be very dangerous if put in any situation where I had to choose whom to protect in war. This homo obviously has a rich fantasy life if he thinks anybody in an infantry line unit would be afraid of him. He would make one threat and end up either in the hospital or in the morgue. Soldiers in infantry units tend to take threats to their lives seriously. I was told to never come to any formation, or base inspections. I was given an assignment to pick up a truck in the morning, go to work off base, and had little contact with the higher-ranking members of my unit. I was mostly left alone until my time was over. Un,huh. This whole fairy tale should have started with "Once up a time......". We are supposed to believe this buck private homo with less than 6 months in the army was just given a pu truck and told to drive off base and work all day with no supervision?????? Rockwell is a freaking delusional liar as well as a coward.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
Yes,we can,even though you try to spoil the sauce with class warfare jealousy. Freedom is NOT free,and people who are not willing to fight for freedom do not deserve to be allowed to live free. Including you.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
Who knows? Maybe they would have given you a new pickup to drive off base and do work for civilians each day?
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
I fell into that same timeline and didn't have to register either, but did volunteer in 79 and served for 20 years. I did enjoy my time in until politics and ass kissing started getting to be way too intrusive in decisions that should have been made at a lower level by saner people. That seems to be a major problem these days as I hear it from my middle daughters husband (14+ years TIS) and I'm glad I got out when I did and started another life. That being said it's still a good way for some people to get an education and escape the grips of poverty they may have been born into.
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
I didn't get my Government vehicle license until I got to my first duty assignment and received the proper training on the vehicles (both left and right hand drive), which was about the 7 month mark. And if I did drive off base in a Government vehicle I was required to have a "shotgun" with me at all times in case something happened. One of our heavy equipment drivers was killed when he got out of the wrong side of the tractor and his shotgun didn't stop him. He had a D9 dozer on a lowboy on a off limits road and a civilian vehicle collided with the blade, he got out and was struck by another vehicle. His shotgun was also responsible for allowing him to go on that off limits route. After I got back to the states 3 years later the shotgun requirement was dropped for smaller vehicles like cars, pickups and deuce's.
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
You made a good post here with sound information. I too continue consider Lew Rockwell as a questionable source since I believe he constantly displays an extreme bias and consistently promotes propaganda or conspiracies. I find poor or no sourcing to credible information. I actually classify him as having a complete lack of transparency and categorize his pieces as fake news. I found him untrustworthy when I realized that I did not have enough time to continue a required fact check on a per article basis. This is just my opinion but one formed after long and serious consideration. I have difficulty understanding why Deckard sees Lew Rockwell as his almighty news god and continues to spam this forum with Lew Rockwell articles. But then I quickly remember that Deckard has the same undying admiration for Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project and Deckard he also posts articles from Reason. That consideration then sheds a bright spotlight on Deckard’s shortcomings and misgivings….of which he has many.
And even then you had to have a military drivers license,which no one in a training command would have,and you would have had to have gone to the motor pool and signed it out and then washed it,refueled it, and signed it in when you came back. Since you have to be a member of a command in order to sign a vehicle out of their motor pool,ONLY cadre in a training command would be able to sign a truck out. Rockwell,IF HE EVEN SERVED A DAY,was NOT a member of the training command so they would not have allowed him to sign a truck out. Period.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
You also had to do a vehicle inspection even before you got in and turned the key, oil level, water level, air pressures, lights, turn signals etc, etc... And you best not leave the "wash rack" in less than pristine condition either, a couple of my guys found that out the hard way on a Friday night after they washed the shop deuce. Being hauled out of the club and put back into uniform to go clean up all the mud they left behind in the wash rack was kinda embarrassing. P.P. our vehicle manager was not amused to say the least. lol
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
It really is shocking how someone can think they can fool people into believing they were even in the army,when it is obvious they never served a single day. BTW,if I am ever within range of that weasel,I plan on bitch-slapping the piss out of him,and encourage ever other veteran to do the same.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
If you stop to think about it not that many people are in or have been in the military, consequently their knowledge concerning the military is very limited. Even people in one branch of the military don't really know that much about other branches and what they do. Everytime you reminisce here I learn something about your duties and the people you served with, heck even my wife doesn't know half the stuff I did and she was with me throughout my career.
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
I always considered Lew Rockwell to be a little light in the loafers,as well as a coward hiding behind pacifism,but the above and what followed is an OUTRIGHT LIE Lew Rockwell didn't write this, get a grip.
It was posted from his website,and his name is the only seen on the post. Good to know that Rockwell is such a fool he doesn't fact check the crap he posts,though.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
I was ready to fight as soon as the North Vietnamese invaded California. Until then, I wasn't going to succumb to the mass hysterias of the military-industrial complex and their media whores.
Until then, I wasn't going to succumb to the mass hysterias of the military-industrial complex and their media whores. Un,huh. I believe you. HONEST! One small question,though. It appears the VN DID invade California after we abandoned them to the Soviets and the Chinese,so when did you start fighting?
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
You blew it, there's a crapload of them in Huntington Beach right now.
The Viet Cong has an invasion beachhead in Huntington Beach? I don't think so.
You can't admit that much of your life has been spent fighting or funding an imperial war machine that hasn't won any wars in 70 years. And most - probably all - of your comrades' lives were spent completely in vain. They can march those bands around, flags waving, and have funeral salutes all they want; it won't change the fundamental facts of throwing away 'unimportant' young men to justify the arms trade, prop up despicable allies, embark on wars our ruling classes have no intention of actually winning and certainly will not allow their children to play the victim (hero) role. It's a fool's game. It's time you finally admitted it.
The invasion has been going on for decades. Most of them are political refugees, probably from the LBJ and Nixon era. Garden Grove is loaded with Korean refugees. Every one of our foreign adventures has brought in "diversity". Even just spy stuff and general agitation brings 'em in. Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, John F'n Kerry & Hillary's peeps. Third world crapholers.
I have considered before whether this is part of a deliberate pattern, my own personal little CT (which, because it is home-rolled, is so much tastier than a Nooryish or Jonesy CT). Run a series of unwinnable wars to increase munitions profits and to dispose of the gullible flag-waving young white patriot men (or maim them or wreck them with drugs or leave them too emotionally crippled to reproduce) while importing the desired non-white persons into the States. If that wasn't the plan all along, it has worked surprisingly well and very consistently over decades, just as you are pointing out.
It's a fool's game. It's time you finally admitted it. Don't worry. I understand you are just looking for a way to feel good about yourself by excusing your cowardice. Your mama was right. You really ARE a "special little boy". Maybe not in the sense she meant,but.........
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
You're a lot more eager to feel good about yourself. You still can't admit your generation was a victim of the military-industrial complex as they waged a bloody war they were determined to lose. I suppose you'll never admit exactly what was done to you and your comrades who died or were maimed or lost some of the best years of their lives for nothing.
I suppose you'll never admit exactly what was done to you and your comrades who died or were maimed or lost some of the best years of their lives for nothing. Just keep trying to justify your cowardice. If you are fooling anyone,it is yourself.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
What cowardice exactly? I wasn't eligible to sign up for any draft since there wasn't one for men who were my age for several years. There was no war going on when I was a young man since you and your Vietnam comrades left Vietnam in defeat and America had no other wars that I could really sign up for at the time. The most I could have done was sign up to be a peacetime soldier when we were in no shooting wars anywhere around the world. Try again. Keep in mind, I don't have a high opinion of volunteering to be cannon fodder for another miserable failed war that we have no intention of winning. But, at the time, beyond Reagan getting a few hundred disarmed Marines blown up by a truck bomb in Beirut airport or invading Grenada by defeating a few hundred Cuban mercenaries, there were no shooting wars of any kind for America. Gee, pete, if I was a veteran of the Beirut airport bombing or a veteran of the Grenada invasion, then could I finally be your own personal war hero? LOL
#2. To: Deckard (#0)
Men born from March 29, 1957 to December 31, 1959 were never required to register with the Selective Service System because the registration program was not in operation at the time they turned 18. The requirement to register was reinstated in 1980 and applies to all men born on or after January 1, 1960.
#3. To: Tooconservative (#2)
#4. To: Deckard (#0)
What I did not realize at the time is that one of my drill sergeants was to become an angel on my shoulder. I was told I would get orders to go to Fort Benning, Georgia for Advanced Individual Training and then Army Airborne School.
#5. To: Tooconservative (#1)
The real question is whether we believe we can and should drag people away in chains to force them to fight for the alleged "national interest" (as defined by our ruling classes and "independent press", none of whom will ever allow their own kids to get near any danger for the "national interest", come hell or high water).
#6. To: hondo68 (#3)
Too young to go to Vietnam anyway. Would probably have gone to Germany to drink beer.
#7. To: Tooconservative (#2)
(Edited)
Well, it is a footnote to the history of the draft. If it is of no other interest, LF readers can largely deduce my age from my mention of this personal biographical detail.
#8. To: sneakypete (#4)
(Edited)
We are supposed to believe this buck private homo with less than 6 months in the army was just given a pu truck and told to drive off base and work all day with no supervision??????
#9. To: sneakypete (#4)
I always considered Lew Rockwell to be a little light in the loafers,as well as a coward hiding behind pacifism,but the above and what followed is an OUTRIGHT LIE …
#10. To: CZ82 (#8)
I didn't get my Government vehicle license until I got to my first duty assignment and received the proper training on the vehicles (both left and right hand drive), which was about the 7 month mark. And if I did drive off base in a Government vehicle I was required to have a "shotgun" with me at all times in case something happened.
#11. To: sneakypete (#10)
And even then you had to have a military drivers license,which no one in a training command would have,and you would have had to have gone to the motor pool and signed it out and then washed it,refueled it, and signed it in when you came back.
#12. To: CZ82 (#11)
#13. To: sneakypete (#12)
It really is shocking how someone can think they can fool people into believing they were even in the army,when it is obvious they never served a single day.
#14. To: sneakypete, lost in space (#4)
What I did not realize at the time is that one of my drill sergeants was to become an angel on my shoulder. I was told I would get orders to go to Fort Benning, Georgia for Advanced Individual Training and then Army Airborne School.
Author: Gary D. Barnett
#15. To: hondo68 (#14)
Lew Rockwell didn't write this, get a grip.
#16. To: sneakypete (#5)
Freedom is NOT free,and people who are not willing to fight for freedom do not deserve to be allowed to live free.
#17. To: Tooconservative (#16)
I was ready to fight as soon as the North Vietnamese invaded California.
#18. To: Tooconservative (#16)
ready to fight as soon as the North Vietnamese invaded California.
#19. To: hondo68 (#18)
You blew it, there's a crapload of them in Huntington Beach right now.
#20. To: sneakypete (#17)
One small question,though. It appears the VN DID invade California after we abandoned them to the Soviets and the Chinese,so when did you start fighting?
#21. To: Tooconservative, *Neo-Lib Chickenhawk Wars* (#19)
The Viet Cong has an invasion beachhead in Huntington Beach?
#22. To: hondo68, Deckard (#21)
Garden Grove is loaded with Korean refugees. Every one of our foreign adventures has brought in "diversity". Even just spy stuff and general agitation brings 'em in.
#23. To: Tooconservative (#20)
You can't admit that much of your life has been spent fighting or funding an imperial war machine that hasn't won any wars in 70 years. And most - probably all - of your comrades' lives were spent completely in vain. They can march those bands around, flags waving, and have funeral salutes all they want; it won't change the fundamental facts of throwing away 'unimportant' young men to justify the arms trade, prop up despicable allies, embark on wars our ruling classes have no intention of actually winning and certainly will not allow their children to play the victim (hero) role.
#24. To: sneakypete (#23)
Don't worry. I understand you are just looking for a way to feel good about yourself by excusing your cowardice.
#25. To: Tooconservative (#24)
You still can't admit your generation was a victim of the military-industrial complex as they waged a bloody war they were determined to lose.
#26. To: sneakypete (#25)
Just keep trying to justify your cowardice. If you are fooling anyone,it is yourself.
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