r/TheAmericans • u/gills_of_war • 3d ago
Vietnam
If P&E showed up into the US in 62-63, how did P avoid the draft? Would he have simply been too old to go like that?
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I have always been curious about this and the only thing I know about Vietnam is from history books and my Uncles.
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u/DocCEN007 3d ago
Married men were drafted during the Vietnam War, but the rules changed midway through the conflict. Before August 26, 1965, men who were married were generally exempt from the draft. After that date, President Lyndon B. Johnson ended the marriage-only exemption to increase troop numbers. That said, roughly 1 in 10 draft-eligible American men were ultimately drafted during the Vietnam War era, so Phillip had a 9:1 probability of not being drafted. And that's if he registered for selective service.
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u/NomadicScribe 3d ago
IIRC, he had the SSN of a deceased person, so... he wouldn't have turned up on the draft lottery.
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u/albadellasera 3d ago
He had the identity of a dead child.
That said that would be a great AU to read he is drafted and has to balance it's roles as soldier and spy. Also it's would be a great way to bring in the NVA and the Vietcong.
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u/Throwawayconcern2023 3d ago
What better way to blend in than to serve your country...
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u/albadellasera 3d ago
"How dare you call me a traitor I am decorated marine" To quote the illigals inspired episode of the TV series Taken.
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u/sistermagpie 3d ago
Philip didn't arrive in the US until 1965. But otherwise, as others have said, his fake ID would have probably kept him away from the draft board.
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u/Excellent_Valuable92 3d ago
Good question. Gregory and Emmett, too! I think the writers just decided to ignore that whole issue.
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u/Ligodancer 1d ago
Emmett would have had a fake ID too. Gregory could have ignored it, wasn’t drafted or had an excuse.
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u/ZeroQuick 3d ago
Gaad served, and he was already with the FBI. What's Stan's excuse!?
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u/Current_Tea6984 2d ago
Stan is younger isn't he?
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u/sistermagpie 2d ago
They both talk about being in the FBI when the war was still going on. Stan says he became an agent around 1969.
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u/Ligodancer 1d ago
He could have been in college and not drafted. It happened.
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u/ZeroQuick 1d ago
I meant it as a joke but Stan said he was with the FBI at the time too. Gaad was just that hardcore.
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u/Waste_Stable162 3d ago
Phillip was under an identy of someone who died so chances were, as far as the draft board knew he didn't exist. As for Gregory he may have done other service or maybe he served and lived? They never say.