Conscripted Ain't Having No More Fun Jac Roberson   © Copyright 2025 by Jac Roberson

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Everyone’s life is different. My life is one of those. I’ve had many great times in my life, primarily meeting and marrying my wife. We were married for almost 54 years when she died of heart failure. We adopted two children who gave us the greatest of pleasures. Three grandchildren added to those pleasures. Of course, many other things and people have added to the better times of my life.

Now, I want to disclose the worst time of my life, to let you know the many miseries it caused. I was conscripted, more commonly called drafted, by the U.S. Army when I was twenty years old. At that time the United States was drafting thousands of men every month. President Johnson had recently doubled the number to 35,000 draftees a month. A total of 230,911 were drafted in 1965. For the entire Vietnam War era there were about 1.9 million people drafted. That’s many a poor soul who mostly didn’t want to be there. I personally don’t think there should be a draft. If one doesn’t want to fight for an idea or his country then he should just have to live with the consequences. If this means that your country will be conquered or destroyed then it is a result of many who feel this way. This is still an exercise in democracy where the majority rules. It should be your choice and not an authoritative decision.

Admittedly, I was not prepared to be drafted, as I guess no one ever is. I hadn’t thought anything about being in the Army and it was far from my mind. I knew I had registered for the draft so could expect this but it was quite a blow. I wondered if I had never registered in the first place, would I have still been called? It was for a so-called patriot to be forced to face a war that I thought was unnecessary and I certainly didn’t feel like dying for. That’s why they had the draft in the first place because not enough people believed in the war. One certainly should not have to die for something he doesn’t believe in. I’m true to my country but don’t always agree with its policy and directions.

My life at that time wasn’t the greatest and showed no real promise of getting any better. I wasn’t married yet, I had no job, lived at home, drank too much, and was slowly falling apart. I probably did need some kind of shakeup to get back in shape. But I wish that it had been by some other way. I wouldn’t have picked getting drafted but I couldn’t control it. I was extremely depressed dealing with this life-changing event. I was mad and upset about the whole affair. I guess it was my first real crisis in life and I had trouble dealing with it.

At this time, I was kind of at odds with my long-term girlfriend. I don’t remember the reasons for our problem. It wasn’t like I was yearning to get back together; it was just kind of lonelier when we were apart. I was confident that we would eventually get back together. We had been going together for almost two years and I was pretty sure we would probably get married someday. But not real soon anyway.

By circumstance, I met another girl about a month before my induction date. She was the younger sister of my best friend's girlfriend. She was only fifteen but was very cute and rather mature for her age. My friend and the sister had a fraternity hayride party to go to and for some reason, he didn’t have his car. So, they asked me to take her younger sister to the hayride and provide the ride for all. I wasn’t excited about it. I had worked all day at a construction site and was tired. Also, I didn’t think I’d enjoy being with a girl so young that I had never met. I mean five years can make a lot of difference between two people. They finally convinced me and I acquiesced.

The younger sister and I seemed to hit it off very well and I had a good time with her. I had a little too much to drink and was more forward with her than I would have been normally. She seemed fine with all that and didn’t complain or say anything to me. We saw each other a few times before I had to leave because of the draft. I hadn’t planned on another girl in my life and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with my girlfriend. So, I went away for two years having an uncertain love life. Now, I could miss and be lonely for two girls. What a deal.

I was slightly older, by months than most of my friends, so I seemed to be the first to receive a draft notice. At first, I didn’t tell anyone that I had received it and worried about what I could do about it. Finally, I did do a somewhat stupid thing though. After a night of drinking and staying out late, the next morning I went to a Navy recruiting office and joined the Navy. I had this unreasonable notion that the Navy would be better than the Army. I don’t know why. I did have a good friend who was in the Navy. Finally, it hit me that I would have to be enlisted for three years in the Navy instead of just two in the Army. I didn’t know what to do because I certainly couldn’t bear to look forward to an additional year in the service. Under denial, I just didn’t show up for my scheduled induction. Several people urged me to contact them and take the consequences whatever they may be. I did make that contact and all they did was reschedule me for the next month's induction cycle. Also, much to my amazement, they told me that because I didn’t show up for my original date, I could not join the Navy but would have to go into the Army. I was relieved that not only was I not spending more time in the service but I wasn’t receiving any punishment for my actions. I had thought about defecting to Canada but didn’t have the resources to carry it off. That would have been a big leap that I’m not sure I could have done anyway. In principle, it made good sense to me though.

The following month I went to my scheduled induction and started my incarceration in the Army. I felt fortunate that one of my best friends who would become my future brother-in-law was also there. We went through basic training together at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. This helped a bunch being with a good friend during all of this. Another friend was at the induction center who opted to go into the Marines. What a sucker I thought. He went to Vietnam and later had some disciplinary problems, but at least he made it home safely and in good condition.

All of my fellow inductees loaded on a bus to make the 5-hour ride to our new home. After we arrived, we were assigned a barracks and platoon sergeant. My friend became my squad leader. I felt lucky in that respect. The next day we all received our very short haircuts. I had rather long hair then, and the barber sang “Goodnight Irene” to me as he was shearing my locks. I felt like I lost two pounds off my head. I received my Army uniforms and other gear and was assigned a rifle and footlocker. After initially setting things up in the barracks some corporal came in to instruct us how to make our bunks and keep our footlockers arranged neatly. We were told this was important because of the many inspections we would have to go through. We were supposed to be able to bounce a quarter off our made-up bed. More instructions followed about keeping the barracks clean, scrubbing the latrine, and firing the boiler up for the barracks heating. It was November and getting colder by the day. Each barracks had water cans attached to the posts which were to serve as emergency fire retardants. The trouble was that many a night the person assigned to keep the boilers stoked with coal would fall asleep on the job. So, not only did the barracks get very cold but the fire water cans would freeze solid and be useless. This was dangerous because the barracks were mostly dried-out timber built during World War ll.

Once we were settled in, we began our training which was primarily marching, practicing at the firing range, and getting familiar with the mess hall for future KP (kitchen police) duties. The daily routine started at about 5:30 in the morning and often lasted until about 6 in the evening. Usually, I was worn out after every day. Some nights I and others did get some beer and stayed up most of the night drinking in the latrine to not keep the others in the barracks awake. The next day was harder to handle because of it.

I went into the Army in mid-November so all of my basic training was in the cold winter months. Many days I felt like I was freezing to death while at the shooting range or marching around in circles. It was also usually hard to breathe in the coal fire smoke which lingered in the air. It would get so bad you’d be spitting out black stuff. I never had my heart in it, so I barely did what was required. For one thing, I never passed my shooting range requirements. I was what they called a “ BOLO” which stood for “one who does no good”. For some reason, I got into the physical training part and gained maybe 15 pounds and hardened up my muscles. I was in much better shape than when I went in at a scrawny 126 pounds.

We were lucky in that we were able to go on leave for a week or so around Christmas. I was able to mend some fences with my old girlfriend but was also able to take out my new acquaintance. I took my new girlfriend out to a favorite dance joint, with the help of her sister’s identification. My old girlfriend was there also and all we did was give each other glaring looks. Her friend called me the next day and wanted to know if I wanted to get back together with my girlfriend. I guess I had made her jealous, being with another, younger girl. I did want to get back together, so it was a busy time for me for a while, but enjoyable.

When I went back to basic training, I was in a much more indecisive mood than before concerning my love life. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with the two girls. It was also depressing to have to leave home again and probably wouldn’t be back for quite a while. During this leave my friend and his girlfriend were married and I was the best man with her younger sister being the maid of honor. Now, it seemed I was much closer to my new girlfriend than before. She had become more of a part of my life. It was hard to leave and go back to Army life.

After basic training, I was shipped out to Fort Ord, California for radio operator training. It was a nice place, being on the coast and all. Everything thing seemed so clean and fresh compared to Fort Leonard Wood. It did give me a slight boost in my morale. The training mainly consisted of learning Morse Code and using the telegraph. I took advantage of being there and visited San Francisco and the Los Angeles area. My brother and his family were living in Huntington Beach. When I was in Los Angeles, I tried to get a hold of my brother but we never connected. While out at a nightclub, I did see the record producer Phil Spector, who was influential for the sound of the Righteous Brothers and the Ronettes singing groups. This made an impression on me.

After about six weeks of training, I was sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia for radioteletype training. The chartered airplane to Georgia vibrated so much you could hardly talk. I wasn’t sure we were going to make it. Several months later that same flight crashed in Oklahoma and killed many. My parents sent me a newspaper article concerning it. Apparently, the Army was not too concerned with the safety of their men. Just pawns to ship off to war and die in the name of some patriotic cause.

At Fort Gordon, I attended night training and it was very tedious. We were mainly learning how to type rapidly. I didn’t like the boring training and the monotony of it all. So, in my mind, I felt that I had had enough. I just quit going to training. That was fine for a few days but when I was found out, I was in trouble. They, of course, said I didn’t have a choice and that I would be punished. They issued me an Article 15 (under the Uniform Code of Military Justice), which is the Army’s company-level punishment for fairly minor infractions. I was assigned extra duty and confined to the area for a while. I didn’t do much except hang around the barracks and the canteen with very few extra duties. My next problem came from moving from a temporary tent structure that I was assigned to into the framed barracks on my own. People were constantly moving in and out so assigned beds were hard to keep up with. Finally, one morning at roll call I was told that I was in trouble again because they thought I had gone AWOL (Absent Without Leave). So, I got another Article 15 with a similar punishment plus some money deducted from my pay. I was continuing in my refusal as a reluctant draftee.

I settled down for a while and was considered a holdover, which just meant I didn’t have an assigned destination for permanent duty. All this time I was worried about getting orders to go to Vietnam. I had convinced myself that I would go to Canada if I received orders for Vietnam. I could just not see myself killing someone no matter what. The Army, of course, would put you in a situation that would require you to kill or be killed. This wasn’t for me. I received three different sets of orders for Vietnam but each time they had me listed as a radioteletype operator, which I wasn’t, so they were revoked. This is because I never finished the training. Lucky me for being a troublemaker.

In the meantime, I decided I wanted to go home. So, I along with a fellow soldier from Memphis, hopped on a bus in Augusta, GA and away we went. I was home a few days when my Company Commander, a colonel, called and told me I’d better get back as soon as possible or I would be in major trouble. He would send the Military Police after me. So, I returned. When I got back, I knew I was in more trouble than usual. The Company Commander was toiling with bringing me up to a court martial which would probably mean stockade time. For some unknown reason, my platoon sergeant stood up for me and I got off with just another Article 15. Up until that time, he and I didn’t get along all that well, so I don’t know why he helped me. More money was taken from my pay. I finally settled down and decided I would be a good little soldier, at least try to stay out of trouble.

Shortly after that, my old girlfriend decided to come down and visit me. She rented a motel room in Augusta and we spent several days together. I kind of got the idea she was reaching out for marriage but we never actually discussed it. I think we both enjoyed being with each other. I felt closer to her than ever before. I thought about marriage, but since I was in the Army, I surely did not want to do it then, if at all. I was sorry to see her leave. She probably was disappointed that her trip didn’t prove to have any results toward determining our future relationship. Most likely I would have acted differently if I wasn’t in the Army. In fact, I don’t think I would have played two girls along like I did either. I have always been a one-woman man who was honest in my relationships.

I hung around doing hardly anything for months until finally, I received orders to go to Germany as a radio operator. So, near the first of November, I set off for Fort Dix, New Jersey for processing to go overseas. I traveled by train from Georgia having a private room. It was a pleasant trip primarily because I was alone, which was rare while in the Army. I relaxed, enjoyed the passing scenery, and read a lot. It was one of the few peaceful times during my Army stay. I was still worried though about going overseas for at least a year.

At Fort Dix, I caught some kind of flu or cold and became quite sick. I was barely functioning when I boarded the plane to go to Germany. After a very long uncomfortable plane ride, I was sent to a hospital in Frankfort, Germany during my arrival processing. I got extremely depressed while in the hospital. I ended up with a bad case of tonsilitis but didn’t have to have them removed. I remember spending hours just staring out the window at the hospital imagining what Germany was like. After about a week, I was taken to Fulda, Germany where I stayed two nights before continuing to Bad Hersfeld, my final destination.

My unit was an armored cavalry outfit which meant it was a tank company that guarded the East-West German border. This was a no-man zone that was fenced on both sides of the border and was patrolled by the Germans on one side and the Americans on the other. It was the northernmost American border garrison guarding the border. It was considered a first line of defense during the Cold War. The cadre would tell us we would be the first ones run over when the Russians invaded. It later had defensive nuclear capabilities also. The Kaserne where I stayed was an old Nazi fort from World War II years. I would imagine what it was like during World War II with all the Nazis running around.

I was assigned to the communications center as a radio operator who made message runs in a jeep to Fulda five times a week. This was only about 22 miles or so to the South, but It gave me some opportunity to get out and visit the surrounding country. I greatly enjoyed my drives where I would make many side trips and actually feel like I was an individual and not a soldier. Bad Hersfeld was located approximately 70 miles northwest of Frankfort, Germany. This whole new world was mine for the next year. I wasn’t happy.

I was mostly depressed from just being there, then Thanksgiving came about. For some reason, I became even more homesick and lonesome. I missed everybody and everything in my real world. I started thinking about how much I missed both of my girlfriends and that I was so helpless to do anything about it. I found myself going to the EM (enlisted men) club almost every night and drinking a lot. But even at the EM club, I was usually depressed because there was often good music, but I didn’t have a girl to enjoy it with. I also felt just like I was in jail. I was confined and subjected to total dominance by the Army. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to be there on their own volition.

My depression caused me to believe everything was worthless. I neglected writing to both my girlfriends, while all the time trying to figure out which one I should go with. I even made promises to call but when the time came I didn’t. When I wanted to call, I had to go to downtown Bad Hersfeld and use their facilities. This alone was very inconvenient. It was also hard because of the time zone difference and my available hours to make the call. After I failed to call my old girlfriend, twice, she became very leery of our relationship. I kind of blew it off, I just didn’t care. I even kind of sent my new girlfriend a rejection letter that more or less put our relationship on hold. This all depressed me even more. Now I wasn’t sure if I had either girlfriend but what did it matter, I was in Germany and they were home. Thousands of miles away.

I started to realize that I was having a drinking problem. I had a couple of incidents at German bars where I was kicked out into the street and had someone shove me to the ground. I think both times I said something derogatory to them. When we went on a war game maneuver, I purchased a case of strawberry wine which was made in the local area. I drank way too much and the next morning threw up for an hour and felt terrible. Also, one night I was at the Rod and Gun Club on the other side of the highway from the Kaserne when I got drunk and, on the way back to my barracks, I was hit by a car. I didn’t even realize it till the next morning when I woke up in the dispensary. I had several scrapes on my head and hands. The driver was a German who said he was going to press charges, but luckily he recanted later. I did get in some trouble but my main worry was that I wouldn’t rotate (go home) on my scheduled time. I began to back off on so much drinking from then on. Of course, I was sure it was just an escape from my problems.

When I did rotate, I went back to Fort Dix to be discharged. A disturbing part of it all was when I entered the country. Customs officials confiscated a book I bought in Paris. It was the Naked Lunch by William Burroughs which was on the United States banned books list. I was somewhat outraged and complained vehemently to no avail. I thought how sick it was that my country drafted me against my will and then stole my book. I wasn’t sure I was glad to be back at that moment.

I flew home and quickly settled into my old ways but with much less drinking. Luckily, I was living with my parents and had the opportunity to readjust. I didn’t do much for a few months then decided to look for a job. I applied for a job at a paint manufacturer, but even though I did great on the math test, in a very short time, they wouldn’t hire me. My discharge paper, Form DD 214, indicated that I had gone AWOL and the personnel guy thought that was just terrible. Oh well, what can I say? I am sure he was never a draftee. When a friend was later discharged from the Army, I accompanied him to the city personnel office so he could apply for a fireman position. That didn’t interest me but the personnel clerk talked me into applying for a draftsman position with the Public Works Department because I had taken drafting in high school. I got the job and worked there for about two years.

I eventually went to see my old girlfriend and we decided to call it quits. Probably mostly from her animosity toward me than anything. I felt a little sad but was okay with it. I realized it was mostly my fault because of my neglect and aloofness toward her while I was in Germany. For years later, I wished I could have better stated my problems and confessed to her that much was caused by my depression, my immaturity, not being completely truthful, and not communicating well. I did love her and felt I didn’t treat her with the best care. She was my first love and thoughts of her have never gone away. Although I do understand that we were probably not meant for each other.

Not long after, I contacted my new girlfriend, we hit it off again. I apologized for my fickleness while I was away and tried to convince her that I really did like her. She understood my depression and problems. I felt that I was extremely lucky to have her. It all worked out and we were married about nine months later. I could have not been any happier and am so glad things worked out as they did.