During Vietnam soldiers were limited to one 12-month mandatory combat deployment

[NNN0LHI]

Some volunteered for more than that but that is what was required.

What was the reasoning behind that? I really don't remember the reasons we were given for those limits back then. Does anyone else?

Don

[TomInTib]

1. Stress, pure and simple.

The DoD had done a lot of study into just how much the average soldier could take.

Actually, it was 13 months.

They are fucking up a whole lot of people with this business today.

[Thothmes]

9. Just as LBJ was fucking up a lot of folks in the mid-late 60s

[TomInTib]

10. Yeah...

Like me.

[searchingforlight]

2. The truth is that there was a draft.

The US just had to reach down into the bottomless barrel to throw more bodies at the conflict. It played well with the public to say one tour required. Believe me if there was a draft today ( and the reason we don't have one is because no politico wants to draft women) one tour would be a non-issue.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Yea but weren't about two thirds of Vietnam vets volunteers?

Pretty sure thats what it was.

Don

[searchingforlight]

5. Yes, but the volunteerism benefited from the hammer of the draft.

Many of the volunteers had high draft numbers and chose to accept the inevitable. Many volunteered for the Air Force and the Navy in hopes that they could get further from the grunt war and there were also those that had economic and social reasons just as there are today.

[NNN0LHI]

6. I would have volunteered for an extended vacation to Canada had it came down to that

I love the Great White North.

Don

[kentj44]

3. i did 3 in a row

1966-1969 u of nam.

[pengillian101]

7. Welcome Home, Sailor!

Thanks for your service :hug:

[kentj44]

8. thank you

it has been a pleasure to serve this country and its citizens,all,however i'm praying that the country is returned to the people of the usa.