Paul, I have three older brothers, all of age during the Vietnam era. My oldest brother was deferred because he was in college and when college deferment was no longer applicable he was in medical school and the father of two babies. My other two brothers had college deferment but failed to be re-enrolled for failing grades and disciplinary action. They both enlisted in the Air Force. They knew they would be drafted and likely sent to Vietnam. One did his tour in Japan and the other was stationed in Vietnam but he was an ordnance guy and didn't see any "action". My brothers were like most other middle class white kids. The draft was fueled by those who couldn't afford a deferment and who had a low draft number. My first husband was born in 1953. He got his draft number and his Dad took him to the Naval recruitment office to get the ball rolling. There was no student deferment by then. To the best of my knowledge. The day after he went to the recruiter my father-in-law woke him up by hitting him in the head with a rolled up newspaper. Headline read: Nixon abolishes draft.