In my Kingdom Hall, only one other brother (draft age) went to prison other than me.
There was a lot of chicanery in who went and who didn't.
The choices were varied.
The Watchtower Society wanted all young brothers to be Full-Time Pioneers. They would go to bat for you with the Selective Service to obtain a 4D (Ministerial) deferment.
They refused to help you at all otherwise. Clearly this was a pressure point.
The official stance of the Watchtower was shaded this way and that depending on who was asking.
Rutherford Era understanding of Romans 13:1-3 was twisted beyond all recognition (the Superior Authorities were identified as Jehovah God and Jesus Christ!) The exact opposite of the context and meaning of the setting in Romans!!
This (deliberate mis-)understanding ended (if memory serves) around 1960. It wasn't widely known to have changed!
When I turned 18 and registered for the draft I could not have escaped military service unless I was a Full-Time Pioneer according to the general information dispensed by my Congregation Overseer at that time. (Presiding Elder).
When my notice came in the mail I had a window of opportunity to appeal a 1A (ready and fit for military service) classification by sending in the Selective Service form with a request for deferment. The reasons could be ticked off. I, not being a full-time minister, checked the "conscientious objector" box. This would be my view of myself and not necessarily the classification my local board (after a personal interview) would grant.
I was called in for interview and questioned by all the members of the board in a rapid fire cross-examination.
Afterward I received my I.O. (conscientious objector) status along with my draft card in the mail.
By law, I had to carry it on my person at all time.
Eventually, I was notified by mail I had to take a bus to Dallas Texas for an Armed Forces Military physical exam.
I asked my Congregation Overseer what I should do.
He and the Assistant Overseer took me into the library and closed the door. In hushed, confidential tones they gave me the lowdown.
I could never tell any authority they had spoken to me or advised me in any way.
I should go along with everything the asked me to do with one exception. I would NOT report for duty when assigned.
What most active JW's don't know to this day is that my automatic assignment (because I was a conscientious objector) would be to work in a hospital. This was IN LIEU of Military Service as allowed by the law. Two years civilian duty INSTEAD OF Military service. All I had to do was report to Terrell State hospital on such and such date.
When I ___failed___to report (as instructed by my Congregation Overseer) I would have broken the law--a Federal Law and be subject to the punishments under the Universal Military Training and Service Act.
That penalty would be 5 years maximum sentence and possibly a $5 thousand dollar fine!
As my overseer and his assistant explained: Jehovah's Witnesses cannot accept civilian duty because it takes us away from our preaching work AND we are considered IN the military. We would be working for THE WILD BEAST.
This is where it gets really silly. (If it isn't already!)
When hauled into court, the Judge can either sentence you to Civilian duty or federal prison (his call). IF THE JUDGE sentences you to civilian duty (working in a hospital) THEN you can comply and go along with the sentence!
The reasoning is that you have NO CHOICE!
This is ridiculous! OF COURSE YOU DO! You can refuse--can't you? Yes!
But, that was the "reasoning" of the Watchtower through back channels on the Q.T.
If you were sentenced to Prison, well, tough luck!
Several brothers I knew who had money hired Hayden Covington (the alcoholic) who seemed to always win Supreme Court cases and NEVER WIN draft cases. He charged $10,000 to go to court with you and lose! Ironic!
Anyway...
I wasn't yet twenty one years old. In Texas, you aren't an adult until you are 21 years old. I was sentenced under the Youth Corrections Act.
That meant instead of a maximum of 5 years in prison I could (and was!) sentenced to an INDETERMINATE sentence of up to 6 years!
What did that mean?
I was available for parole after 6 months---but--I could be kept in prison for the full 6 years if the parole hearings went against me!!
Here is a sidebar on the situation.
I was pretty nervous and even frightened about what was going to happen. I asked many brothers for advice. I was referred to a brother who had recently been parolled. He had served 5 years. I called him on the phone and asked him a lot of questions. HE REFUSED to co-operate with me and didn't tell me anything other than---"You'll find out when you get in there!"
Asshole!
When I got out---nobody was the least bit interested in my experiences. Nobody asked me questions about how it went. I was immediately cornered by my congregation overseer the day I got out (and attended the Kingdom Hall.) He handed me a Full Time pioneer form and told me "I know you'll want to do this." His son, you see, needed somebody to go out in service with.
The entire experience was a big letdown spiritually.
