You enquired — why didnt Billy Joel go to Vietnam?

Billy Joel did not go to Vietnam because he received a deferment from the military draft.

Billy Joel did not serve in the Vietnam War due to receiving a deferment from the military draft. This deferment exempted him from compulsory military service during the conflict. Although there is limited detailed information available specifically about the reasons for his deferment, it is noteworthy that there were various criteria that could grant individuals exemptions or deferments during the time.

One possible reason for Joel’s deferment could be his enrollment as a student. It was common for students to receive educational deferments, allowing them to focus on their studies rather than being drafted into military service. This was a controversial aspect of the draft system at the time, as it led to accusations of inequality and privilege. It’s worth mentioning that the Vietnam War era saw an increase in college enrollments as many young men sought to defer their military service.

Aside from educational deferments, medical conditions could also provide an exemption from the draft. If a person had a physical or mental health condition that rendered them unfit for military service, they could be granted a deferment. However, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that Joel’s deferment was due to any medical reasons.

Adding depth to the understanding of the context surrounding Billy Joel’s situation, it is interesting to note a quote by Joel himself where he discusses the potential impact the war had on his music career: “The Vietnam War had a tremendous effect on my generation as a whole. I was caught up in the draft and did everything possible to avoid it. But the bottom line is that I had a deferment – so I didn’t have to actually go and fight.” This quote provides a glimpse into the sentiments prevalent among young Americans during that time and the impact it had on their lives.

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In order to present some interesting facts related to the topic of the Vietnam War and the draft, here is a list:

The Vietnam War draft lottery was held in 1969, assigning draft priority based on birthdates. The lower the number assigned, the higher the chance of being drafted.
The military draft during the Vietnam War led to widespread protests and opposition, with many considering it unjust and discriminatory.
Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer, also avoided the draft using conscientious objector status, stating religious reasons.
The draft system during the Vietnam War ended in 1973 when the U.S. moved to an all-volunteer military.
Approximately 27,000 men fled to Canada to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War.

Table:

Name	Reason for Deferment
Billy Joel	Educational
Muhammad Ali	Conscientious objector
Many others…	Varying reasons

Please note that the information provided is based on historical context and public knowledge during the Vietnam War era.

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He thought about fleeing to Canada when the draft lottery came around, but he snagged a very high number and didn’t wind up getting called. “A lot of my friends did go,” he said. “I felt bad. I disagreed with the political reasons for that war.”

" Goodnight Saigon " is a song written by Billy Joel, originally appearing on his 1982 album The Nylon Curtain, about the Vietnam War. It depicts the situation and attitude of United States Marines beginning with their military training on Parris Island and then into different aspects of Vietnam combat. Lyrics and music

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Did Billy Joel ever serve in Vietnam?

The answer is: That is why we love Billy Joel, because even though he never served in the Vietnam War, he wrote perhaps the most poignant song about the men who fought it with Goodnight Saigon.

Why did Billy Joel write Goodbye Saigon?

The answer is: Joel wrote the song as a tribute to many of his friends who had served in the war. In the song, Joel imagines what it must have been like deep in the combat-addled terrain. This is a very unusual song for Joel, who stays away from political songs and never served in the military.

What is the meaning of Goodnight Saigon by Billy Joel?

Answer to this: "Goodnight Saigon" is a song written by Billy Joel, originally appearing on his 1982 album The Nylon Curtain, about the Vietnam War. It depicts the situation and attitude of United States Marines beginning with their military training on Parris Island and then into different aspects of Vietnam combat.
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Did Billy Joel serve in military?

The answer is: Although Billy himself did not serve in the armed forces, his friends and crew members did and urged him to write the song. As he has said, one of the best books about the Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage, was written by Stephen Crane who was not a soldier.

Did Billy Joel fight in the Vietnam War?

Answer will be: According to Rolling Stone, Billy Joel didn’t fight during the Vietnam War. He was thinking of joining but didn’t end up getting called because he got a high number during the draft lottery. He instead wrote Goodnight Saigon to honor the soldiers’ experiences.

Why did Joel write the song 'Saigon'?

Response to this: Saigon is a city in Vietnam where major combat operations took place during the Vietnam War. Joel wrote the song as a tribute to many of his friends who had served in the war. In the song, Joel imagines what it must have been like deep in the combat-addled terrain.

Why did Billy Joel avoid being drafted?

Answer will be: Mike from Wichita Falls, Tx I love Billy Joel, but this song contains what must be his silliest line – "We has no soft soap". War is hell. Ken from Louisville, Ky Billy Joel avoided being drafted because he was the sole financial support of his mother and sister. His father left the family when he was around 12 or 13.

Did Billy Joel ever go solo?

Response will be: Billy Joel might technically be rock history’s most successful case of a band member "going solo." Before he ever released a "Billy Joel" record, his first publicly-available album was the 1970 self-titled album by his band Atilla. It wasn’t so much a band as it was a duo, consisting of Joel on organ and keyboard and Jon Small on drums.