New Hope Journal
Personal Essays and Public Opinions since 1979
_____________________________________________
by Larry L. Dill
The Selective Service Board Appearance
.709 West Lynn
Austin, Texas 78703
May 15, 1968
Local Board No. 7
Selective Service System
655 W. Main
San Antonio, Texas
Dear Sirs:
After I was able to organize my thoughts a bit I was able to remember much more of the activities which took place at my personal appearance today. With your permission I would like to supplement the summary which I filed immediately following the hearing, with this more comorehensive report in dialog form. I do not intend to indicate that this is word for word dialog but I have tried to recreate the statements of the board members and myself as closely as possible. Since I did not know the names of the board members who spoke I will refer to them collectively as “Member.” And to myself as “Answer.”
Member: What information do you wish to submit?
Answer: These four letters of recommendation and a statement about a change in my formal religious situation.
Member: You are not a member of a church organization?
Answer: That is one of the things I wish to speak about. I would like to amend my form 150 by saying that I am now a member of Ward Memorial Methodist Church. The official statement on conscientious objection by the Methodist Church is included in that letter from Albert Merubia which you have in your hand there.
Member: Are you still a member of the Unitarian Church or did you sever your relationship?
Answer: I was never formally a member of the Unitarian Church. I attended several orientation sessions while I was living in San Antonio last year. I would like to read the following statement.
Member: I don’t think we need to have this. Just submit anything you have in writing and we will read it. What do you wish to say orally?
Answer: Everything I wish to say is written down.
Member: Could you summarize what you have written?
Answer: Well…I wanted to read a portion of my application for Austin Presbyterian Seminary which I plan to enter in the Fall. Actually in July.
Member: Will you just summarize it.
Answer: Yes. Essentially it states that I have been in a state of religious turmoil for the last 3 years. That is why I did not file on my original form 150 that I was a member of a church. I was not active and I did not wish to pose as such. However, after the death of Martin Luther King, I attended a rally at the state capitol building in Austin. I was shocked by the disillusionment of the speakers all of whom seemed to carry one theme: that violence was now to replace the non-violence of Martin Luther King. I decided at that rally that Martin Luther King had died in the name of the church which I had once thought was not doing its part in solving the needs of our people. I decided then to return to the ministry because it seemed that the church must now take its stand for non-violence. That is my stand, my philosophy, and that is where I ought to be.
Member: Then you became a pacifist at that rally.
Answer: No Sir! Officially I became a “pacifist” on March 15 [the date of the filing of the form 150 application for Conscientious Objector status]. But I have been a pacifist for a long time.
Member: Since you were re-classified 1-A?
Answer: I made statements advocating non-violence when I was 16.
Member: Why didn’t you claim C.O. classification before now?
Answer: I grew up in a discipline that did not give me the alternative of pacifism. I was more or less taught that pacifism was wrong…both in the church and at home.
Member: You were not a pacifist while you were in Scouting. You can’t be a Boy Scout and be a pacifist can you?
Answer: I was. I just didn’t know it. “Pacifism” and “Conscientious Objector” are draft board names, not mine. I only recently found the correct “label” for feelings I have always had.
Member: What did this American Legion Award say?
Answer: There was nothing in writing. It was a metal.
Member: You couldn’t have understood what the metal was for if you were a pacifist. The American Legion and Scouting have to do with serving your country.
Answer: I believe I am serving my country by claiming conscientious objection. Love is the greatest and most powerful force on this earth.
Member: Would you be willing to serve in a non-combatant role as a medic or hospital aid to help save American lives.
Answer: No. Because I feel there are….[extant carbon copy illegible]…of government oppression who had no choice but to fight. These men are on both sides and most of them are innocent and do not deserve to die. Yet I would be under the discipline of my commanding officer and thus not free to serve humanity but just America. That is unjust and I do not wish to be a part of it.
Member: What about non-military service? Certainly you would have no objection to serving in that capacity.
Answer: Not if it were my only alternative. I think I should be allowed to dertermine how I can best serve my country.
Member: You say you want to go to seminary. How about being a chaplain when you get out of school?
Answer: No, Sir. As a military chaplain I would still be under military discipline and thus could be ordered to kill.
Member: Won’t you obey the laws of your bishop when you become a minister?
Answer: Only as far as my conscientious allows.
Member: You say a Christian must be against war. Are you saying there are no Christians fighting for our country?
Answer: Every Christian must listen to his own soul. My conscience tells me not to kill. If another Christian says he must kill, that is his decision. I cannot judge him.
Member: You said you would do civilian work?
Answer: I would like to ask the board to let me go to seminary in lieu of civilian work. I believe I could serve my country as a Christian Minister.
Member: Haven’t we heard enough? We have given you more that the allotted time. You will be notified of the board action.
(I was then excused from the room.)
I respectfully submit this summary to become a part of my file.
Sincerely,
Larry L. Dill
Selective Service Number 41 7 44 405
Go to Chapter 2F: Prague Spring '68: American Style
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