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Report: Donald Trump Got Deferments From Service During Vietnam War

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Donald Trump (credit: Gary Coronado/Palm Beach Post/AP)

Donald Trump (credit: Gary Coronado/Palm Beach Post/AP)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Possible presidential candidate Donald Trump received several draft deferments from military service during the Vietnam War, according to purported Selective Service records that appeared online.

The website TheSmokingGun.com says it received an extract of the records from the National Archives and Records Administration.

The records TheSmokingGun.com obtained show that except for a three-week period, “The Donald” was classified 2-S – deferred due to college study – from July 28, 1964 until January 1, 1968.

On July 9, 1968, Trump’s status switched to 1-A, meaning Trump was available for unrestricted service.

Three months later on October 15, 1968, the real estate mogul’s availability was restricted to only periods of war or national emergency, having received a result of disqualified on his Armed Forces Physical Examination.

Trump was ultimately classified 4-F, medically unqualified for military service, on February 1, 1972 – over three years later.

On Tuesday, Trump neglected to mention his multiple deferments, instead suggesting it was pure chance he didn’t get drafted.

“Well, I actually got lucky,” Trump said. “I had a very, very high number, and they never got up to that number.”

Does this change your opinion about Trump? Sound off below in our comments section.

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  • RICK

    they he goes trump first lie, strike one. who are this guy to talk about our president? he just hate to see smart black man like obama as our president. all he s doing is making a fool out himself. with the big mouth cursing on tv, no class, he is showing it. who want this guy to run our country? this guy makes my stomach flip. maybe he pay few millions for not to go to war, or maybe he is a coward like the rest of the republican party. and this tea party all bunch of racist people and they not ashame to tell the country.

  • http://ethicalfutures.wordpress.com HooDatIS?

    WHAT A LOOSER HE IS MEDICALLY UNQULAIFIED FOR THE MILITARY HE IS MENTALLY UNQUALIFIED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
    DONALD THE DUCK LOOKN AZZ BOY GO SIT DOWN
    U ARE THE WEAKEST LINK….GOODBYE
    http://ethicalfutures.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/spoonyluv-makes-personal-ad-omg-so-funny/

  • B. Agostino

    Rich boy’s don’t serve ,they can’t stand sleeping in a
    group situation and public showers most run to the Psychiatrist to get an exemption
    that they are too nervous for combat.

  • cygon

    After New Yorkers elected this swine Bloomberg, I now will never vote for any man who swear to run the government “like a business” !!!

    • Well Said

      Well said !

      • Rodin

        Well you voted ignorant of what “like a business” means. That’s exactly what you got. The bottom line is what matters. Hooray for free enterprise and unbridled capitalism. Shoot yourselves in the foot. If you’re not in the uppitiest 1%, you lose, Pawn!

  • Bob Fowler

    It has become the norm to have a President with a lower moral standard that a pimp. The Donald is pretending to be considering running for the Presidency, for no other end than to increase his Q rating. He doesn’t care whether what is being said is good or bad, so long as his name is mentioned. This is the white Al Sharpton, a buffoon in need of an audience.

    Did any of you actually believe that Trump was a man of integrity or honor? If you did, did the Easter bunny bring you cool candy last week?

  • jerseyjoey

    You liberal Fools, yea what a short memory you have, oh thats right only when it benifits your agenda, I seem to recall clinton dodged the draft and let the draft dodgers back into america. Funny, you see the Demoncrats Now know that trump or any other republican is there end in 2012, so lets start the smear campain now, different this time is America doesnt want whats in the White house at the monent and you will see defeat in 2012. truth will win out in the end, something that liberals fear most.

    • Earl M Cohen

      Whether anyone wants Obama in the White House is moot regarding this specific issue. As to your remark about Clinton dodging the draft, whether he did is also moot: he opposed the war because the US had no business being there in the first place, something history has revealed to be the accurate take on that surrealistically horrific nightmare, and he was poor. That he is a Democrat is also moot; anyone who opposed the draft, was poor, and dodged it had every right to do so. Trump comes from wealth, the sector of society that avoided Vietnam en masse but achieved great wealth from it off the backs of others, most especially the poor who were forced to send their sons there while. Sons of the wealthy got their deferments; poor-born soldiers returned with all sorts of problems. It was not by chance that the largest portion that served over there were black. And half America’s homeless were Nam vets. Reagan and you Republicans saw to that. Trump proved himself to be a coward. Clinton proved to live up to his views, If he allowed draft dodgers to return to the US, good for him.

      I’m not a Democrat, nor am I a Republican, and I’ll not vote for any member of either party come 2012, but you on the right are the most dangerous and most despicable sector of American society in our history.

      Vietnam Vet, 1969-70
      Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal

      • Rodin

        EXCELLENT!!!

      • Joan

        Thank you for your service, especially during such a terrible time in our history. And thanks for addressing that buffoon!

    • Rodin

      JJ:

      You mean a “smear campaign” like the one Republicans led against John Kerry, a bona fide, decorated Viet Nam war hero who did serve honorably?

      BIRTHIR!

      PS -
      I didn’t “serve” either. The SS and FBI ‘rejected’ me.

    • AFD

      What a short memory YOU have. It was Carter who gave a pardon to those who avoided the draft by leaving the country. What’s the difference between people like Clinton who left the country to avoid the draft and folks like Cheney who used multiple deferments to avoid serving? Clinton didn’t think ANYONE should go since he considered the war immoral. Cheney and Trump were both gung-ho on the war–as long as poorer guys did all the fighting.

      • Rodin

        I’m still waiting for someone other than me to mention boozing “W”, our self-proclaimed, self-tooted “WAR PRESIDENT,” running even from his Air National Guard unit to avoid service…. 5’000 troop deaths and counting!

    • John E. Williamson

      Sorry Jersey Joe, you have it COMPLETELY WRONG! Liberals would LOVE to see Trump run…..he’s quite an entertaining buffon.

  • Richie

    Trump would eliminate the deficit almost immediately if he was elected president. He would immediately declare the USA bankrupt and leave the Chinese holding the bag. That’s his MO- run up the tab and then declare bankruptcy…….now we know that he ducked the draft as well……. and he wants to be president……I would vote for Birnie Madoff over that weasel

  • Cliff

    Y’all can alll leave trump along. The country needs to be ran like a business.
    Get on the. Band wagon or just shut up?

    • Rodin

      Please learn to write before you post.

  • Rod in

    There is nothing wrong with draft dodging. The US military is the biggest scam in the world. We don’t need it. Nobody has ever invaded us. All the military does is get other folks overseas angry at us.

    • Art

      The British invaded the US in 1812 and destroyed Washington. During WWI the Germans proposed to help the Mexicans if they would invade the US. And no doubt you’ve heard of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942. Without armed forces there is no doubt the US would never have survived, nor would it survive today. The fact President Bush used our military unwisely shows not that the military is a scam, but that some of our politicians are scam artists.

  • frank burns

    Why is it that the sort of people who support Palin or Trump don’t understand what lying is? Sure, liberals lie, but they also understand the concept. But that Trump is a lier just flies right over the heads of these birther/Tea Party types. They think the issue is about avoiding the draft, are impervious to the idea of LIER. Is it because they have a disconnected about truth — holding to their beliefs against all evidence?

    • John E. Williamson

      If you ever figure out how these people completely ignore reality let us ALL know. They continue to vote in opposition to their own self-interest based on lies…are the teabaggers/Republicans that stupid and gullible? If so this nation has some serious problems.

  • kevin

    i thought that democrats hated war. At least he didnt protest on foreign soil like the traitor we had 2 presidents ago.

  • Rod in

    What’s wrong with dodging the draft. The Military is one big scam. We don’t need it. Nobody has ever attacked us. All it does is invite attacks by angering people overseas.

    • Kenn

      If u were a college student during this period, student deferments were automatic for everyone

    • Jenetha Temba

      how can you say we dont need a military? Does Pearl Harbor and the Twin towers ring a bell. I am proud of anyone who is in service and I know we need good people to volumteer for the job. I’m not too fond of the draft but why did Trump not say “I was classified as medically unfit” instead of the lie he told. If he is able to lie with such a straight face for something so small, imagine when he has to address something bigger.

      • Nick

        Rodin works for CBS.

        There’s no stopping their stupidity.

    • 88mm

      get off the pipe,its rotting your brain.

  • Common Sense

    Odd that so many New Yorkers here in this feedback would say such terrible things about trump considering if he was to become President, he would obviously favor New York and New York city in his policy making because he loves the city so much. You people really do not have much common sense, do you ?

    • Charles Butts

      Donald Trump is not special. All politicians and people in the public eye are scrutinized about their military service, or non-service, particularly during the Vietnam era. If he avoided the draft, it is certainly becomes a point of judgement and character on his part.

  • Jackie Chiles

    While there a many reasons I won’t vote for this man, his military deferment isn’t among them.

    The author of this article is really reaching for something negative to write.

  • Dan Te

    NYC has a billionaire mayor….so let’s have a billionaire in the white house too. Just goes to show money can get you anything you want.

  • mp

    Trump is not only a liar and an adulterer but he is a disgusting racist pig that got where he is true his father’s wealth.

  • R u Kidding?

    Trump is the only person to ever bankrupt a casino! Yeah, let him run our country.

  • Just Asking

    Is it a requirement for a presidential candidate to have served in the military? What’s the big deal?

    • Omar

      When you question a sitting President’s right to serve because he is not qualified, your qualifications and ultimately your integrity must be called into question.

    • GW

      I would say that a liar should not become President but I would be driven deaf by the overwhelming laughter.

  • Andy

    I served in Viet Nam for a couple of tours – If Trump didn’t believe in this war – Maybe he shouldn’t have served. If he was afraid to go to war – then he was a coward who used his money to stay safe. I can respect a man who stands up for what he believes in – I can’t respect a coward. What was he?

    • Frances

      Anyone who is going to be our president is going to send troops into harm’s way. A leader would serve or face the consequences. Troops need to believe the president isn’t sending them somewhere he wouldn’t go himself. John McCain had credibility in this regard–Trump doesn’t.

      • Rodin

        Yeah, just like ‘W’!

  • Paul

    50,000 Korean War National Museum supporters can use charity search engines.

  • TruthBaby

    I’m starting to really like what this guy is saying. Who cares about his hair that is not what makes a man. This man is very successful, comes from a good hard-working family and he speaks TRUTH and I’m sure he won’t take any cr*p from anyone like these pandering idiots that we have in office now. THE TRUTH SHALL SET THE USA FREE!!!!! To bad all the liberals are afraid of it.

    • Karen

      Truthbaby,

      Funny that u say Trump speaks the TRUTH, while this article is showing just the tip of the iceburg of LIES he has stated.

      Get ready for all the Carnival Barkers Lies to come out….It will be very comical…

    • Mp

      You must be a racist just like that arrogant racist Trump.

      • Jackie Chiles

        If he is racist, he has my vote.

    • Silverpegasus

      TruthBaby, talk is cheap, people follow like sheep!

  • p

    charityusa.com, goodsearch.com, isearchigive.com, & fundraising-solutions.org

  • Jay

    As a registered Democrat, Donald Trump seems to be the only one talking about the real issues affecting this country and how to get it back on track. I have seen many interviews with him and if you listen, he makes a lot of sense. However, the media which is biased will have you believe that anyone capable of making real change is simply an insane clown and most Americans will drink this cool-aid. I like what he says about bringing jobs back and his thoughts on China. Perhaps it’s time this broken country is run like a business. Trump just may be the man.

    • Kris

      So, talking non-stop about Obama’s birth certificate (you know, the one that wasn’t actually missing) and how much money he has is going to get the country back on track how?

      Sometimes when the media says someone is an insane clown, it’s because that person is in fact an actual insane clown.

      • Jay

        Anyone who poses a threat to either party is always made out to be “unelectable” or an “insane clown” If a REAL independent ran, just watch out!! Both parties who will team up to destroy the outsider. In this case, Trump is running as a Republican. You ask how how he will bring the country back? You aren’t listening to the news, or are listening to one of the biased news programs in favor of God almighty Obama. Trump doesn’t need the money or fame, he already has that. He also has tremendous business skills which is what this country needs now. Perhaps you like the change that has brough about? I don’t and no one is talking the right talk. Trump is making the case so far. Any threat to the media darling Obama and that person is destroyed. Americans fall for it and our jobs keep leaving. We sit here unemployed, or fear of losing the job we now have. China owns us and we buy goods that are cheap, toxic with short shelf life. I think it’s time for real change. As Trump said: Obama promised “change you can believe in” while Americans are saying “can you believe this change?”

      • Jay

        Oh, and the birth certificate issue wasn’t Trumps. This has been going on for years. Remember? Trump brought it out in the open because many have questioned where Obama was born and still do. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t care about any of this. I just want jobs for our country; a health care system that makes sense and some fiscal conservativeness. Domestic issues cannot be ignored. I’m sorry to say that IMHO, Obama has not delivered the change he promised. Almost everyone I know is either out of work, worried about losing their job, or knows someone who has lost their job. We are fighting too many wars that we are not winning and the country is in serious decline. China will eventually be the world leader. You call this change?

  • Bill from Downtown

    I am an admirer of Mr. Trump, and if he runs, I will vote for him. However, something doesn’t ring right here. I don’t care about the 2-S status. Anyone in high school or college that was of draft age was automaticall given 2-S status. There were many different types of deferrments, including those for teaching, which drew countless numbers to the profession, many of whom never would have entered the profession except to escape the draft thereby significantly contriibuting to the dumbing down of America then – and now as those who entered then are well into their tenured positions . . . but I digress. What concerns me is that Mr. Trump said that he had, “a very, very high number.” I may be wrong, but t seems to me that the lottery system which assigned the numbers did not come into play until 1970 or 1971.

    • Neither left nor right

      So he “misspoke*”, just like Blumenthal, both Clintons, Bushes and on and on and on.
      I’m pretty sure lying is a pre-requisite for higher office.

      *politi-speak for lying.

  • HARLEM GOING H.A.M.

    THE CRUSH DUMMY IS @ IT AGAIN. I’M TRIED OF SEEING HIM IN THE NEWS. HE WAS BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN HIS BUTT. HE HAS NO CONNECTION WITH THE GRASS ROOTS, AND HE’S A COVERT RACIST IN MY OPINION.

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