Joe Bidenmissed The Vietnam War

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During the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War, Joe Biden missed serving in the military through a combination of student deferments and a medical exemption for asthma. The story of his draft avoidance is a complex narrative that reflects the experiences of many young men during one of America’s most controversial conflicts.

The Path to Deferment

In the mid-1960s, Biden received five separate draft deferments, primarily based on his status as a student. He first registered for the Selective Service on February 15, 1961, when he was an 18-year-old student at Archmere Academy in Wilmington. Throughout his undergraduate years at the University of Delaware and later during his law school tenure at Syracuse University, Biden successfully maintained student deferments.

Medical Exemption: The Asthma Factor

Despite being a high school football player and summer lifeguard with an athletic build, Biden received a critical medical classification that ultimately kept him out of the Vietnam War. In April 1968, at the age of 25, he was given a 1-Y Selective Service classification, which meant he was disqualified from military service due to childhood asthma.

A Broader Context of Draft Avoidance

Biden was not alone in his draft deferment. Historical records suggest that approximately 60 percent of draft-eligible American men took some action to avoid military conscription during the Vietnam War. The methods varied widely, including:

• Student deferments
• Medical exemptions
• Enlisting in alternative military branches
• Conscientious objector status

Political Implications

Biden’s draft record became a point of political discussion, particularly when compared to other political figures like Donald Trump, who received similar medical deferments. The narrative surrounding draft avoidance during the Vietnam War continues to be a complex and sensitive topic in American political discourse.

🇺🇸 Note: While Biden did not serve in Vietnam, he has consistently been a strong advocate for military veterans throughout his political career.

Interestingly, the year 1968 was one of the bloodiest of the Vietnam conflict, with 296,406 Americans drafted into military service. Biden's deferments allowed him to continue his education and eventually launch his political career, a path shared by many of his contemporaries who avoided military service during this period.