As I approached the Post Office just before my 18th birthday to register for the Selective Service, I was scared to death. I was registering for "the draft." I'd heard all the stories of young witness men being brought before registration boards to justify their neutrality stand. I also knew of brothers who came of age during the Vietnam war who jumped right into full time pioneering. If these guys had a Dad as an elder, they were in a good position because strings could be pulled to get them into Bethel....avoiding a jail term. When I turned 16, I began to save a copy of all of my monthly service reports (it was advised) to prove - if and when a future war and draft might begin - that I was a regular volunteer in religious service. I even kept my talk outlines in a notebook. I remember being glad that I was baptized the year before. All of this would be good evidence to present to the draft board! Looking back on it now I realize that we young guys were filled with fear that really strenthened a persecution complex.
I think this fear was one of the main reasons I decided to get dunked...