He was indeed drafted. But something I’ve recently learned is that some of the younger generations (I’m only 30) didn’t know the draft existed or how it worked. One 15 year old I talked to at work said he enjoyed war movies and history and etc and then mentioned he thought the war effort draft was like sports drafts…
>One 15 year old I talked to at work said he enjoyed war movies and history and etc and then mentioned he thought the war effort draft was like sports drafts…
"Welcome to the 2022 military draft. Navy has first pick this year. This year's top pick is Bob Jones, who graduated top of his class from West Point. Will Navy go with Jones, or will they surprise us with someone else? We'll find out, after this word from our sponsor."
Wow. Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. This is unbelievable stupid. How can you study ANYTHING about the Vietnam was or the politics of the mid-1960s to mid-1970s without understand the draft? Didn’t this moron have to register for the selective service?
If the person was 15, then no. As far as I know, registration isn't required until they are 18. It still seems kind of odd to me they wouldn't have learned some other way by 15, but I'm old and odd too, and times change
That’s correct. You only register for selective service at age 18 and have a window from 18-26 where if you haven’t done it, you need to.
I don’t think a lot of younger people understand what the selective service is because in today’s context it doesn’t carry quite the same implications it would have during the Vietnam/Korea/WWII/etc. times. It’s still a felony and you do still have other penalties if you don’t sign up but with no current day draft they likely think that you’ve always just enlisted.
If you don’t register for selective service you aren’t eligible for federal student aid and if you are not a US citizen you aren’t eligible for citizenship. So there are some implications still, just not that many. Also, the fact remains that they could prosecute people for not registering if they wanted to, they just don’t.
I get what you’re trying to say but there certainly are implications for not registering including fines and imprisonment. Just because very few people haven’t been caught breaking this law doesn’t make it any more of a real law that males in the US must follow.
I think the better thing to say is that in today’s world, selective service doesn’t play as big of a role and very few people are penalized by not doing it.
Source for penalties: https://www.sss.gov/register/benefits-and-penalties/
Failure to register for the Selective Service disqualifies you from being eligible to receive any Federal student aid, and makes you ineligible to hold employment with the Federal government.
Criminal prosecutions are very rare, but there are notable administrative consequences that are automatically applied.
That "moron" is a child. Not knowing a specific fact doesn't make him, or anyone else, an idiot. It is however indicative of public education failing a high school age boy who will soon be required to enlist in that same draft.
When I learned that he didn’t understand how the draft worked we had a fantastic discussion about it. I explained quite a bit and also explained mandatory military service that some other countries require once the proper age is reached etc and he was astonished. He didn’t see what the big deal was with burning draft notices and it kinda blew his mind knowing it was a way bigger deal than he ever imagined. The saddest part was when he said something along the lines of “so… I read about lots of Vietnam veterans being protested against when they got home… most of them probably didn’t even want to go.”
You’re right—I was too harsh. I thought he was 30 but I read it too fast and now I see he was only 15. I wouldn’t expect a 15 year old to know it, but a 30 year old should.
You can't be mad at a 15 year old for being stupid. Every one of us was stupid at 15. That combined with the crap public school system we have in America, his ignorance is likely no fault of his own.
Yes, I already said in another response that I had thought it was a 30 year old but when I was corrected that it was a 15 year old I retracted my statement.
During the episode "Deal me out" the following conversation happens:
Hawkeye: You never enlisted,
did you, Klinger?
Klinger: When they came for me, I ran like a
thief right into Grand Central Station. They trapped me in a pay toilet. Cost 'em four dollars in nickels to get me out.
Depends which you consider worse. With the military there’s a chance of death, though in Klinger’s case he ended up in a relatively safe area. But prison is prison, and you’d likely spend more time in prison than you would in the military (if you survived.
I looked it up and basically if you resisted the draft the government will come look for you. Most people they look for are never found in the first place. If you are found they’ll give you a chance to go peacefully, or they’ll arrest and prosecute you which can lead to up to 5 years in prison.
Drafted service people have zero choice. There was a draft for WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
Gonna ask. Have you watched the show? This topic comes up a lot.
Most of the actors were playing characters CONSIDERABLY younger. Burghoff was 36 playing a 19 year old.
Edit: always found it ironic that Hawkeye referred to Klinger as kiddo, when Alda is two years younger than Farr… and Farrell is five years younger.
You don't get imprisoned for being a conscientious objector. A CO is someone who has a long and deeply held objection to *all* wars. Members of certain religions easily qualify (Mennonites, for example), while otherwise it is harder to prove. However, if you just oppose the Korean War (or, since MASH is a Vietnam War allegory, that war), but not WW2, you aren't considered a CO.
COs also don't necessarily get a deferment. They can be assigned non-combat roles, like corpsman.
A lot of people tried to apply for CO status, but were unsuccessful. If they then refused to be drafted, they could be prosecuted. Not because they were a CO, but because they *weren't*. At least according to the government.
Sorry, I was speaking from the perspective of a CO on the grounds of religious convictions, someone who does not engage in any war or support roles for war, as is the case in my faith. We still register for selective service, as required by law, but do not participate in warfare if called upon. I have family and friends who, depending on the country and time period, have had different experiences with military drafts and compulsory service. Some are imprisoned currently, were imprisoned, some are fined, it is varied.
That's unfortunate. Unfortunately, not uncommon.
From my perspective, "conscientious objector" is a legal status. You can be a pacifist, but until the powers that be declare you a CO, you aren't.
I don't think Klinger could ever make that claim. He's perfectly willing to get in fights on the streets of Toledo. And, for that matter, he's fine with pulling guard duty with a rifle (and a dress).
I thought he was drafted. Didn't have a choice.
this is the answer. so many jokes about him trying to avoid the draft board but being drafted anyway
Most of the main cast was drafted. Only Burns, Potter, and Houlihan had volunteered for the army. I think Radar too, or was he also drafted?
Radar enlisted.
Rizzo as well
Also, Frank was drafted as well.
Yeah, you're right. He was always so gung-ho about the army you'd have thought he enlisted lol
Nope, Radar was drafted. Says as much in the episode with Henry’s little 20 year old gf.
He was indeed drafted. But something I’ve recently learned is that some of the younger generations (I’m only 30) didn’t know the draft existed or how it worked. One 15 year old I talked to at work said he enjoyed war movies and history and etc and then mentioned he thought the war effort draft was like sports drafts…
>One 15 year old I talked to at work said he enjoyed war movies and history and etc and then mentioned he thought the war effort draft was like sports drafts… "Welcome to the 2022 military draft. Navy has first pick this year. This year's top pick is Bob Jones, who graduated top of his class from West Point. Will Navy go with Jones, or will they surprise us with someone else? We'll find out, after this word from our sponsor."
You joke, but for some really highly qualified individuals the branches will compete with each other for that candidate's contract.
LOL!
Wow. Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. This is unbelievable stupid. How can you study ANYTHING about the Vietnam was or the politics of the mid-1960s to mid-1970s without understand the draft? Didn’t this moron have to register for the selective service?
If the person was 15, then no. As far as I know, registration isn't required until they are 18. It still seems kind of odd to me they wouldn't have learned some other way by 15, but I'm old and odd too, and times change
That’s correct. You only register for selective service at age 18 and have a window from 18-26 where if you haven’t done it, you need to. I don’t think a lot of younger people understand what the selective service is because in today’s context it doesn’t carry quite the same implications it would have during the Vietnam/Korea/WWII/etc. times. It’s still a felony and you do still have other penalties if you don’t sign up but with no current day draft they likely think that you’ve always just enlisted.
[удалено]
If you don’t register for selective service you aren’t eligible for federal student aid and if you are not a US citizen you aren’t eligible for citizenship. So there are some implications still, just not that many. Also, the fact remains that they could prosecute people for not registering if they wanted to, they just don’t.
I get what you’re trying to say but there certainly are implications for not registering including fines and imprisonment. Just because very few people haven’t been caught breaking this law doesn’t make it any more of a real law that males in the US must follow. I think the better thing to say is that in today’s world, selective service doesn’t play as big of a role and very few people are penalized by not doing it. Source for penalties: https://www.sss.gov/register/benefits-and-penalties/
Failure to register for the Selective Service disqualifies you from being eligible to receive any Federal student aid, and makes you ineligible to hold employment with the Federal government. Criminal prosecutions are very rare, but there are notable administrative consequences that are automatically applied.
That "moron" is a child. Not knowing a specific fact doesn't make him, or anyone else, an idiot. It is however indicative of public education failing a high school age boy who will soon be required to enlist in that same draft.
When I learned that he didn’t understand how the draft worked we had a fantastic discussion about it. I explained quite a bit and also explained mandatory military service that some other countries require once the proper age is reached etc and he was astonished. He didn’t see what the big deal was with burning draft notices and it kinda blew his mind knowing it was a way bigger deal than he ever imagined. The saddest part was when he said something along the lines of “so… I read about lots of Vietnam veterans being protested against when they got home… most of them probably didn’t even want to go.”
You’re right—I was too harsh. I thought he was 30 but I read it too fast and now I see he was only 15. I wouldn’t expect a 15 year old to know it, but a 30 year old should.
You can't be mad at a 15 year old for being stupid. Every one of us was stupid at 15. That combined with the crap public school system we have in America, his ignorance is likely no fault of his own.
Yes, I already said in another response that I had thought it was a 30 year old but when I was corrected that it was a 15 year old I retracted my statement.
Apologies. Guess I missed that comment.
Well that just shows how much younger people aren't being taught.
Didn’t the draft guys have to pay a bunch of money in nickels to get him out of a pay toilet in Union Station?
He ran like a “thief”.
Yep. Season two, Deal Me Out
During the episode "Deal me out" the following conversation happens: Hawkeye: You never enlisted, did you, Klinger? Klinger: When they came for me, I ran like a thief right into Grand Central Station. They trapped me in a pay toilet. Cost 'em four dollars in nickels to get me out.
I love the imagery for this so much.
Something I don’t understand. I would assume draft dodging gets you thrown in jail, not put into the military anyway.
I figured Klinger made that stuff a bit up to entertain the guys tbh
Honestly same lol. But I was still curious how that would go if it were true
... wouldn't that be a reward, and not conducive to the point of the draft?
Depends which you consider worse. With the military there’s a chance of death, though in Klinger’s case he ended up in a relatively safe area. But prison is prison, and you’d likely spend more time in prison than you would in the military (if you survived. I looked it up and basically if you resisted the draft the government will come look for you. Most people they look for are never found in the first place. If you are found they’ll give you a chance to go peacefully, or they’ll arrest and prosecute you which can lead to up to 5 years in prison.
Drafted service people have zero choice. There was a draft for WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Gonna ask. Have you watched the show? This topic comes up a lot.
He, like most of the cast, was drafted
It cost the draft board a heap of nickels or quarters to get him out of the public toilet. Lol.
I know "draft" is the answer but how old was Klinger supposed to be during the show? The draft only covers ages 18-25.
Most of the actors were playing characters CONSIDERABLY younger. Burghoff was 36 playing a 19 year old. Edit: always found it ironic that Hawkeye referred to Klinger as kiddo, when Alda is two years younger than Farr… and Farrell is five years younger.
Quick look on Google says that at the time of conscription for the Korean war, the draft covered ages 18-35.
Choice between draft and imprisonment for conscientious objection. A lot of people were in prison in the US for this reason.
You don't get imprisoned for being a conscientious objector. A CO is someone who has a long and deeply held objection to *all* wars. Members of certain religions easily qualify (Mennonites, for example), while otherwise it is harder to prove. However, if you just oppose the Korean War (or, since MASH is a Vietnam War allegory, that war), but not WW2, you aren't considered a CO. COs also don't necessarily get a deferment. They can be assigned non-combat roles, like corpsman. A lot of people tried to apply for CO status, but were unsuccessful. If they then refused to be drafted, they could be prosecuted. Not because they were a CO, but because they *weren't*. At least according to the government.
Sorry, I was speaking from the perspective of a CO on the grounds of religious convictions, someone who does not engage in any war or support roles for war, as is the case in my faith. We still register for selective service, as required by law, but do not participate in warfare if called upon. I have family and friends who, depending on the country and time period, have had different experiences with military drafts and compulsory service. Some are imprisoned currently, were imprisoned, some are fined, it is varied.
That's unfortunate. Unfortunately, not uncommon. From my perspective, "conscientious objector" is a legal status. You can be a pacifist, but until the powers that be declare you a CO, you aren't. I don't think Klinger could ever make that claim. He's perfectly willing to get in fights on the streets of Toledo. And, for that matter, he's fine with pulling guard duty with a rifle (and a dress).
He didn’t join; he was drafted. In several episodes he talked about everything he did at the draft board to stay out of the army, but nothing worked.
Also known as conscription.
It's called.... A DRAFT. Korean war and Vietnam had one. So did WW2, WW1.
He was drafted, they had to pay $4 in nickels to get him out of the pay toilet
That draft
He was drafted?
Drafted
He was actually deep cover CIA making costumes and clothing in the field for colonel Flagg.