do not forget to click on the links to see the youtube videos which support the story

 

 

A New Year – 1969, what the New Year holds for John – time will tell.

 

He was having very little success with the job market. Everyone he interviewed with – told him to get a haircut and then comeback. Being of German decent he was quite hard headed and refused to get his hair cut. He was determined to find someone who would hire him.

 

He finally found a job digging ditches for a plumbing company. The owner was a little more lenient about his hair. He told him to get his hair cut or keep it under a hat while at work. John found the biggest hat he could find to hide his hair. He did not want to pass up making $1.65 an hour – minimum wage.

 

His hat was from last year’s Madi Gras. The hat was a colorful purple, yellow, and green tall cat in the hat type hat. His boss just stared at him at first and then he accepted the hat. Of course digging ditches and wearing the hat was annoying, however he was determined to keep his hair.

 

John followed the exploits of the Vietnam War protests which were sweeping college campuses across the country. He wished he could have gone to college so he could participate in these events. He and his friend Glen, who he graduated high school with, often talked of traveling to participate in protests.

 

John found it most amusing in July when the military began pulling troops out of Vietnam. He did not know why this was happening, he was just confused. If the government was pulling out troops, the war must be winding down and why continue the draft!

 

On July 21st, the first moon landing took place and Neil Armstrong’s famous saying – “One small step…” He felt that this event was an important, but what did it have to do with the events in this country.

 

The country was in turmoil and we land people on the moon! He was confused; he felt proud of the astronauts and yet again was looking for ways to protest against the government.

 

John and some friends talked about going to the great gathering that was going to take place in Bethel, NY called the Woodstock Music and Art Fair beginning August 15th. Everyone chickened out when it came time to go, except John and Glen. Their birthdays were about the same time and they wanted to have one great party before they turned 19 and Uncle Sam beckoned them.

 

They drove John’s VW bug to Woodstock, the beginning of a grand road trip. When they arrived in Bethel, they had to leave the car in a farmer’s field (for a ridiculous fee of $10) and walk the last two miles.

 

They had a grand time, lots of free everything – including all the mud you wanted from the rains. There was little food and water to drink; however they did not mind, because the music was great and when you are 19 you can tolerate anything for fun.

 

They walked back to the farmer’s field to get John’s VW bug to begin the drive home, when Woodstock ended. On the way back, they ran into other Woodstock goers who told John and Glen about a national day of protests against the Vietnam War to be held in October. They were eager to participate.

 

On October 15th, the day of national protests began all over the country. John and Glen made signs and let their voices be heard as they marched through the streets of their hometown. They were both especially angry on this day, they had received their induction physical notices – Uncle Sam was calling them to fight a useless war in Vietnam.

 

In November they went for their induction physicals at the state capital, three hours away. Glen failed his physical and was classified 4F. He had a free pass to avoid the Vietnam War.

 

John was not so lucky; he passed and was classified 1A – draft bait, cannon fodder – pick your term. He was told to expect to receive his orders to report to the Army within 30 days. Oh yeah, several times to get a haircut.

 

On the way home Glen was all smiles; however John was not happy. The trip home was a long silent three hour journey.

 

The next day John decided to join the Navy, before he received is draft orders. It would not keep him out of Vietnam; however it was better than a muddy foxhole.

 

As 1969 came to a close, John found himself in the navy waiting to go to boot camp. John listened to his new favorite song on New Year’s Eve.