I believe this practice went on before Vietnam. During the Korean War the
older brother of one of my classmates (in Western Massachusetts) was offered
the choice of a criminal record or joining the Army. He chose the latter
and ended up with a medical discharge after suffering from frozen feet.
Phil Landon
Phil Landon e-mail: landon@gl.umbc.edu
English Department fax: (410) 455-1030
Univ. of Maryland--Baltimore County phone: (410) 327-5450