Entertainment · Celebrity · 21 hrs ago
Michael Douglas says he lied twice to avoid the Vietnam War draft
Michael Douglas says in his memoir that he tried twice to avoid being drafted into the US military during the Vietnam War.
He was in college, opposed the war and did not want to fight in it.
After his lottery number was drawn, a medical examination found he had spondylitis and a curvature of the spine.
Douglas says the doctor’s letter described his condition as mild, so his father, actor Kirk Douglas, urged the doctor to send a letter without those words.
At a second examination, Michael wore a white brace and told the sergeant he could not take it off.
He received a 1-Y designation, meaning he would be called only in a dire national emergency.
Douglas says he is not proud of what he did, but wanted to be honest about it in his memoir.
Michael Douglas says he lied twice to avoid being drafted for the Vietnam War, according to his memoir, One Helluva Ride.
He writes that he opposed the war and did not want to fight in it.
Douglas says a spondylitis diagnosis and a white brace helped him receive a 1-Y designation.
He says his father, Kirk Douglas, wrote to the diagnosing doctor to ask for a letter without qualifying terms.
Michael Douglas says he is not proud of what he did but is sharing the story honestly.
- Who
- Michael Douglas says he avoided the draft with help from his father, Kirk Douglas.
- What
- Douglas says he lied twice to avoid being drafted for the Vietnam War.
- When
- During the Vietnam War draft; the sources do not give a specific year.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- He opposed the war and did not want to fight in a war he was protesting.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I did not want to fight in a war I was protesting, and I did everything I could to avoid being drafted.
This was good news—the doctor gave me a letter about my condition that I could show draft officers.
I’m not proud of this story. I am just being honest.
Douglas says he was diagnosed with spondylitis during his physical.
Douglas says he wore a white brace to his examination and received a 1-Y designation.
Douglas’s memoir, One Helluva Ride, was reported as recently published.
- Memoir
- One Helluva Ride
- Diagnosis
- Spondylitis
- Father
- Kirk Douglas
- Draft designation
- 1-Y, according to Michael Douglas’s account
- War
- Vietnam War
Sources
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