A Vietnam War Draftee's Perspective on the War and Military Drafts
Stillwater | Registration opens 1/8/2025 12:00 AM CST
This course will explore the draft including the instructor’s personal experiences, from his undergraduate studies cut short by the May 1970 Kent State tragedy to being drafted into the U.S. Army, trained for combat and sent to Vietnam, where he served near the Demilitarized Zone. We will discuss how and why the U.S. entered and exited the war, the impact of military drafts on the outcome, and the history of drafts and possible alternatives to the Selective Service System from a perspective of fostering choice and civility.
Francis Epplin
Francis Epplin grew up on an Illinois farm. After completing requirements for a B.S. degree, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served as an artillery fire direction controller in Vietnam. After returning from the war, he earned an M.S. degree from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. He served as a member of the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics faculty for 38 years.