"Yes."

"Where?"

"There."

He continued to twist and turn my knee as I looked at him courageously, wringing my hands to quell the pain. Sullenly he stopped and continued to fill out my form. When he was done, he turned to me and said, "Both the Army and you will be happy to know that you are unqualified for military service because of your knee."

Do's and Don't's of Blowing Military Minds

1. At the local Board talk and pass out leaflets to other pre-inductees. Groups like Boston Draft Resistance (547-8260) can often provide support.

2. At orientation ask "Why are we in Vietnam?" and other relevant questions about the war and the draft. It's your right as a free citizen. They may ask you to leave. You may either refuse and be dragged out or go cheerfully making appropriate remarks about the military.

3. If you are returned to orientation, find up-tight people and ask them whether there is free speech on the Army Base. Insist they answer relevant questions. They are supposed to.

4. Often you'll be thrown out again and taken to see higher officers. Stress that you are not disrupting and that you intend to be processed. Have with you a statement to this effect: "I, John Jones, intend to cooperate with Army authorities to the best of my abilities, but I fully expect my rights as a free citizen to be observed."

5. If at any point they ask you to leave, refuse. If you do leave, they may classify you I-A delinquent. You should ask the officer to sign a statement to the effect that you were prepared to cooperate but were refused processing in spite of your willingness. This will give good grounds for court action if you are declared delinquent. Delinquency is serious. That's why it's so important to know your rights and to be prepared. Do not leave the Base until they take you--that's important for court action too.

6. You will have to take a mental test. You may flunk if you're not feeling well. In Boston that gets you an interview with the psychiatrist. If you don't feel well make sure to tell them that's why you flunked.

7. In all interviews, especially with the psychiatrist, it is important to keep them on the defensive. Every answer should end with a question of your own. Pursue your advantage if they start answering your questions. Refuse to answer unless they answer your questions. If you get a chance tell them you'll organize resistance in the Army.

8. On your medical history be fear-less-they can tell faking. Relax and have fun. Tell them how the war has affected your health and don't be bashful about all the diseases that might be induced by the war. Be creative. (Pleading homosexuality is messy but possible if you can stomach it.)

9. For the physical examination write appropriate material on T-shirt and back.

10. They may ask you to surrender leaflets. Refuse absolutely and tell them your lawyer will sue for theft and assault if they take them. You're right, so don't compromise.

11. At the beginning of the Security Oath, they'll ask if anyone is not going to sign. Say nothing. Wait until they start, then raise your hand and and ask, "Is it true that if I don't sign this oath--which is my constituitonal right--that my induction process will be held up for four to six months?"

They probably then take you to various CIA types who'll ask you to sign other statements and will tell a few horror stories about what will happen to you. Be cool. Don't sign anything. You may want to write out something like, "I refuse to sign the Security Oath under the grounds of the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments." But don't give this to them unless it looks like they're going to declare you delinquent.

12. Talk to other inductees. You'll be surprised at their friendliness. Give them your number and ask them to call you about problems.

13. If there are more than one of you coordinate your efforts. Don't expose yourselves at the same time. You may start an uprising if there are more than two of you. Several friends of mine did just that.

14. Honesty and self-confidence are basic. You should expect to have a good time. You ought to be prepared emotionally even for delinquency classification. If you are, they will know that they can't touch you, and that inspires both fear and respect. It may seem difficult, but rarely is a man presented with such a clear cut opportunity to demonstrate his integrity