nationalservice

This poem was written on January 1966 when compulsory National Service in Australia was what young men had to face when they reached 20 years of age.
All dates for a year were put in a draw, and every male who turned 20 on the dates picked out had to register for National Service. It was these lads who were sent to Vietnam to help the USA.

National Service. (M.F.B. 1966)

With the National Service scheme
Many a boy postpones a dream.
For he's destined, at twenty years of age
To spend two years on a soldiers wage.

If your name is drawn out
You're called up without a doubt.
After the medical, if all is clear
Your soldier's life is drawing near.

Defend the country is the aim
Of a soldier, so they claim.
Say goodbyes to loved ones and friends
Accept what lies around all bends.

Then by train you're sent down
For 6 weeks at Kapooka town.
This is where boys learn to fight
All day, till dark, from early light.

After Kapooka, perhaps it's unfair
The Army can send you anywhere.
Back home to barracks or off to war
One never knows what is in store.

Some people don't favour this scheme, you'll find
But there are others who really don't mind.
They're helping to keep this country of ours
Away from the greedy foreign powers.

This is a job that has to be done
Some of it's hard, some is fun.
Whatever you feel, don't forget
Treat your uniform with due respect.

During this time in Australian history, a well-known pop star of the day was called up and off he went to do his duty. He thought it rather odd, during his time in Vietnam, that not one other person shared his birth-date. It would seem he was "called up" and used more for political reasons, than fairness.
One of my friends never came back from Vietnam - he stood on an enemy mine.