Name: Willard Pingley

Drafted: November 16, 1965 at the age of 20

Years of Active Service: 1965-1967

Served During: Vietnam War

Branch: Army

Why did you join the Honor Corps?

I joined the Honor Corps after one of the members I knew real well passed away and they wanted me to go hold the Vietnam Veterans flag because he was a Vietnam veteran. Thatﾒs when I joined. I wanted to show people the respect that we have for our veterans.

In what area did you serve?

Chemical Warfare.

Would you have enlisted if you had not been drafted?

Yes. If I had it to do again, I would have stayed.

The day I got my draft notice, I went to visit the parents of a buddy of mine. We went to school together, he was a year older than me. He was over there and I hadnﾒt heard from him in a couple months. I went to talk to his mom and she gave me a letter she received from him earlier that day. He very simply said in that letter, ﾓleave the country, join the National Guard, go to Canada, you donﾒt want to come over here.ﾔ Thatﾒs when I told her ﾓI got my draft notice today.ﾔ

What advice do you have for new recruits?

The way it is right now, thatﾒs the only thing there is. Thereﾒs no work anywhere. In there [the Army], you can get 20 years and retire, good benefits, good pay.