Romney and Mormon missionaries got VN draft deferrals

[Holly_Hobby]

Mormon church obtained Vietnam draft deferrals for Romney, other missionaries

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | June 24, 2007

As the Vietnam War raged in the 1960s, Mitt Romney received a deferment from the draft as a Mormon "minister of religion" for the duration of his missionary work in France, which lasted two and a half years.

Before and after his missionary deferment, Romney also received nearly three years of deferments for his academic studies. When his deferments ended and he became eligible for military service in 1970, he drew a high number in the annual lottery that determined which young men were drafted. His high number ensured he was not drafted into the military.

The deferments for Mormon missionaries became increasingly controversial in the late 1960s, especially in Utah, leading the Mormon Church and the government to limit the number of church missionaries who could put off their military service. That agreement called for each church ward, or church district, to designate one male every six months to be exempted from potential duty for the duration of his missionary work.

Romney's home state was Michigan, making his 4-D exemption as a missionary all but automatic because of the relatively small number of Mormon missionaries from that state. It might have been more difficult in Utah, where the huge Mormon population meant that there were sometimes more missionaries than available exemptions. Most missions lasted two and a half years, as Romney's did.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/

[Jim__]

1. Like most Republicans, Romney makes up for those deferrments

by his willingness, even enthusiasm, to send other young people to war now. :sarcasm:

[Corgigal]

2. Romney is a dog torturer

pass it on.