THE BIG QUESTIONS
How many people were drafted during the Vietnam War? – J
The Vietnam draft lasted from 1964-73. Of a total of 27 million eligible American men, 2.2 million were called upon. Perhaps surprisingly, draftees only made up around a third of US forces, with the majority being volunteers Ralph E Rigby, the last Vietnam War-era drafted soldier of Warrant Officer rank, retired from the army in 2014 after a 42-year career.
Looking at a map of the US (I’m dreaming about a driving holiday!) I noticed that Oklahoma is shaped a bit like a cooking pan. Indeed, I’ve even heard the word “panhandle” being used, so why the odd shape? – I
Once home to native Americans, the Oklahoma panhandle, 166 miles wide, 34 miles deep, borders Texas, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.
It was part of the Republic of Texas until 1845, when Texas entered the Union, giving up its claim to the area. Until 1890, it was a wild, lawless area, and became known as known as No Man’s Land. The rectangle of land was then incorporated into Oklahoma territory, before Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907.
My granddaughter won’t believe me when I tell her that there was a famous trombone player on TV a lot when I was younger... wasn’t there? – I
I expect you mean Glaswegian George Chisholm.
More than just a trombonist, George was a band leader and recorded with many jazz greats including Coleman Hawkins and Fats Waller. George appeared on many TV shows, such as The Good Old Days, Star Turn and Show Train.