Don't Tell Me It Don't Mean Nuthin'

Josef Ratajkowski received his draft notice in 1968. He had never once considered avoiding the draft by faking an illness or a medical condition. He would answer the call to serve his country but only on his terms, he informed the Sgt. sitting behind the desk at the induction center of his non-negotiable offer to become a non-weapon carrying combat medic.

At his first duty station in Vietnam, he forewarned the company clerk that he would only accept an assignment as an OJT (on-the -job trai...