Was it ever explained how Mike was able to get out of going to the Vietnam War? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 07-10-2011, 05:45 PM

We know how his friend avoided the war but I was wondering how Mike avoided the War since it lasted from 1954-1975

FrankCostanza · 07-11-2011, 08:18 PM

Maybe he was able to get out of it as a "conscientious objector". Or perhaps he did not pass the physical due to medical reasons.

704Hauser · 07-18-2011, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankCostanza

Maybe he was able to get out of it as a "conscientious objector". Or perhaps he did not pass the physical due to medical reasons.

Knowing the Meathead, he probably ate so much he got fat, failed the physical, then lost the pounds after.

MickeyMac · 07-18-2011, 04:18 PM

Maybe he just got lucky and his number wasnt drawn. That happened to a few guys. Plus he was in college and probably had a good GPA, so that helped keep him out of the army.

TVFactFan · 07-18-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Maybe he just got lucky and his number wasnt drawn. That happened to a few guys. Plus he was in college and probably had a good GPA, so that helped keep him out of the army.

So after highschool, if you had no way to go to college during the Vietnam War era your only option was to go to the War?

Retro4Life · 07-18-2011, 10:23 PM

My brother was of age to to into the service at the time of the Vietnam War (though he was a few years younger than Mike I believe), and he registered for the draft as was the law at the time. But his number simply never came up.

Retro4Life · 07-18-2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

We know how his friend avoided the war but I was wondering how Mike avoided the War since it lasted from 1954-1975

From wikianswers....

The U.S. sent funding and military support to French forces in Vietnam starting in 1950. By 1961 the US had military advisors stationed in Vietnam. The US did not become fully involved as a military force until 1965. The French fought for roughly 11 years prior to that. There is also the point that there have been military actions between North and South Vietnam hundreds of years before the French became involved.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_d...#ixzz1SVwlxLGF

Brieannas21 · 07-21-2011, 02:27 PM

I think that just because a person was of age to fight, doesn't mean that they would be called. My one uncle graduated in the early 70's and he was never called to serve. But my other uncle was called, I think it was just the luck of the draw.

visaman666 · 12-25-2014, 09:28 PM

I think Gloria married Mike, so he wouldn't be drafted. Married men were exempt from the Draft.

Wawwie · 12-25-2014, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by visaman666

I think Gloria married Mike, so he wouldn't be drafted. Married men were exempt from the Draft.

True, at that time, my father was of age to be drafted, but since he was married and a father, he was not called on.

Bonniegirl · 12-27-2014, 12:25 AM

I was thinking this same thing the last time I saw the ep about his Draft dodger friend who lived in Canada that came to the Bunkers for Christmas dinner.

Babalu · 12-29-2014, 06:18 AM

I never much thought about it at the time but I'm surprised that Norman Lear didn't do some shows with Mike fighting to avoid the draft directly. College students had deferments and Mike (I think) eventually became a teacher and teachers were not drafted, which is why many American men became teachers in the 1960's & 1970's.

Coffeecup · 01-24-2015, 10:34 PM

A neighbor of mine was in college taking Thelogical courses and he was exempt. Since then they have change a lot. Not as easy to avoid the service. Well may it is but the certain situations of years ago you can't do. . Again if you draft number up you go, if not you stay. I always felt it wasn't fair that men could go to Canada to dodge the draft. The episode the "Draft dodger" always may me cry a little.

Nickolas086 · 02-10-2015, 12:04 AM

I know for quite a while and that time if someone was gay they weren't called. There were gays in the military that fought bravely for their country the United States. I don't think one can be called if they're an only child or male child if other kids are girls. I had a High School teacher in one of my classes who told the class about this guy he saw that gained a lot of weight so he wouldn't get called into service.

WalterTheDrinker · 12-08-2015, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

A neighbor of mine was in college taking Thelogical courses and he was exempt. Since then they have change a lot. Not as easy to avoid the service. Well may it is but the certain situations of years ago you can't do. . Again if you draft number up you go, if not you stay. I always felt it wasn't fair that men could go to Canada to dodge the draft. The episode the "Draft dodger" always may me cry a little.

Ummm, there's no draft anymore.

07-10-2011, 05:45 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	Was it ever explained how Mike was able to get out of going to the Vietnam War? We know how his friend avoided the war but I was wondering how Mike avoided the War since it lasted from 1954-1975

07-11-2011, 08:18 PM	#2
FrankCostanza George's Dad Frequent Poster Join Date: May 23, 2005 Location: Athens, Tennessee Posts: 138	Maybe he was able to get out of it as a "conscientious objector". Or perhaps he did not pass the physical due to medical reasons.
	__________________ R.I.P. Sherman Hemsley, 1938-2012. It is time for the Shout Factory to release the DVDs of the remaining seasons of The Jeffersons.

07-18-2011, 10:23 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	My brother was of age to to into the service at the time of the Vietnam War (though he was a few years younger than Mike I believe), and he registered for the draft as was the law at the time. But his number simply never came up.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

12-29-2014, 06:18 AM	#12
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	I never much thought about it at the time but I'm surprised that Norman Lear didn't do some shows with Mike fighting to avoid the draft directly. College students had deferments and Mike (I think) eventually became a teacher and teachers were not drafted, which is why many American men became teachers in the 1960's & 1970's.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

07-18-2011, 04:18 PM	#4
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Maybe he just got lucky and his number wasnt drawn. That happened to a few guys. Plus he was in college and probably had a good GPA, so that helped keep him out of the army.

07-21-2011, 02:27 PM	#8
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I think that just because a person was of age to fight, doesn't mean that they would be called. My one uncle graduated in the early 70's and he was never called to serve. But my other uncle was called, I think it was just the luck of the draw.

12-25-2014, 09:28 PM	#9
visaman666 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 818	I think Gloria married Mike, so he wouldn't be drafted. Married men were exempt from the Draft.

12-27-2014, 12:25 AM	#11
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,766	I was thinking this same thing the last time I saw the ep about his Draft dodger friend who lived in Canada that came to the Bunkers for Christmas dinner.

01-24-2015, 10:34 PM	#13
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	A neighbor of mine was in college taking Thelogical courses and he was exempt. Since then they have change a lot. Not as easy to avoid the service. Well may it is but the certain situations of years ago you can't do. . Again if you draft number up you go, if not you stay. I always felt it wasn't fair that men could go to Canada to dodge the draft. The episode the "Draft dodger" always may me cry a little.

02-10-2015, 12:04 AM	#14
Nickolas086 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 26, 2009 Posts: 110	I know for quite a while and that time if someone was gay they weren't called. There were gays in the military that fought bravely for their country the United States. I don't think one can be called if they're an only child or male child if other kids are girls. I had a High School teacher in one of my classes who told the class about this guy he saw that gained a lot of weight so he wouldn't get called into service.