42 | JULY 4 • 2024 

the lower-economic classes. The draft 
has often been cited as a “leveler;” 
that is, enlistees will come from all 
socio-economic classes. What is your 
reaction to this theory?

EG: The draft fed you into the 
military, which was the leveler or 
melting pot, if you will. Once in the 
service everyone was theoretically 
equal. No matter one’s color, creed 
or background, it came down to 
conforming to military standards, so in 
that sense, it is a leveler.
The volunteer army doesn’t take 
people who don’t want to go, as the 
draft did. However, I do know some 
people enlisted because their civilian 
options were limited. Others may be 
recruited because they have highly 
desirable skills, not simply because 
of socio-economic background. But 
once in, what you were in civilian life 
doesn’t matter as much.
I also think that, instead of a draft, 
what if there was a national service 
plan? Young people could serve the 
country in so many other ways — 
education, conservation, healthcare; 
the military could be one option. 
This would be a leveler — and would 
give young people the chance to 
meet other people from different 
backgrounds. 

MS: Your book tackles a very 
emotional, politically fraught subject, 
even in 2024, as your interviews 
show. But, when completed, how did 
writing this book affect you?

EG: It was emotional for me on many 
levels. It dredged up unsettling 
personal memories and the difficulties 
that friends went though. When the 
book was finished, I was relieved. 
It was the culmination of a long, 
arduous journey. The research, the 
interviewing, the writing all took time 
and work. But in the end, it was all 
very satisfying.

The interviews showed me that men 
were really upset, angry about the 
unjust war. And, I was angry. These 
men were opposed to the war, not 
specifically to the military. This is a 
key point. If you were not opposed to 
the war, you went along with the draft 
or might treat it as an inconvenience. 
If you were opposed, then the draft 
— whether you accepted it or took 
steps to avoid it — could be a critical 
turning point in your life. 
The men I interviewed were angry 
for being put in this position by our 
country. “I cannot be part of this” was 
the primary response among those 
who went to Canada, who left family 
and friends behind, who went to jail 
or into hiding. Those who stood up 
and said “no” often paid a heavy 
price.
The men were not anti-America, 
they were not cowards, and they 
were not traitors; they were angry 
at, and against, the government that 
was conducting this war. Especially 
after such episodes as the Pentagon 
Papers, which demonstrated that 
the government had repeatedly — 
through several administrations — lied 
to us. 

MS: In the end, what is the big idea, 
the primary message that you hope 
readers absorb?

EG: I want readers, especially young 
people, to understand why so many 
members of my generation said 
no to this war; that we have an 
obligation to be informed, to take 
notice of what our government and 
its representatives are doing, and 
to be heard. And sometimes we 
need to have the courage to make 
tough decisions. Sometimes it’s not 
a choice, but a duty to do what’s 
right even when it’s uncomfortable. 
We did that during the Vietnam War. 
Sometimes one has to stand up and 
be a mensch and say no. 

ARTS&LIFE
BOOK REVIEW

continued from page 41

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