...Because there ain't one!  Edwards was born June 10, 1953...that makes him old enough for Vietnam service, as he was 18 in 1971.
I'm not faulting him for not being a military vet, or going to Vietnam, but if its' such a big deal that Kerry's  a "war hero" why is it OK that his running mate never even saw military service?  
Strange times, indeed.

www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/8/24/130440.shtml

In April, NBC "Today Show" host Katie Couric asked him where he was during Vietnam. The exchange went like this:

COURIC: Your military service, before we go?

EDWARDS: I - I did not serve in the military.

COURIC: You had a high lottery number, is that right?

EDWARDS: I did, and I came after - after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery, Katie. I'm 50 years old. And because at the time I came along and graduated from high school and then - and then went to college, I was not drafted. [END OF EXCERPT]

A high lottery number? Not exactly. Pulling number 178 in the February 1972 Selective Service lottery drawing, Edwards' number was lower than more than half of those picked.

And what about the claim that he "came after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery."

That's not strictly true either. The year Edwards became eligible for the draft, the military drafted 49,514 men, according to Selective Service records - tapping draftees who had lottery numbers as high as 95. The draft was abolished in July 1973.

But even that year, 646 young men born the same year as Edwards were inducted into the military.

His draft availability aside, Edwards could have enlisted in the military, following the example of the men he now calls liars. Or sign up for the National Guard, the way George Bush did.

John Edwards, however, did neither, enlisting instead in Clemson University, where, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri, "He had a little fun . . . drinking beer with buddies . . . smoking marijuana a few times." ........

I believe he received multiple deferments.

Oops read the previous post ^

Quoted: www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/8/24/130440.shtml In April, NBC "Today Show" host Katie Couric asked him where he was during Vietnam. The exchange went like this: COURIC: Your military service, before we go? EDWARDS: I - I did not serve in the military. COURIC: You had a high lottery number, is that right? EDWARDS: I did, and I came after - after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery, Katie. I'm 50 years old. And because at the time I came along and graduated from high school and then - and then went to college, I was not drafted. [END OF EXCERPT] A high lottery number? Not exactly. Pulling number 178 in the February 1972 Selective Service lottery drawing, Edwards' number was lower than more than half of those picked. And what about the claim that he "came after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery." That's not strictly true either. The year Edwards became eligible for the draft, the military drafted 49,514 men, according to Selective Service records - tapping draftees who had lottery numbers as high as 95. The draft was abolished in July 1973. But even that year, 646 young men born the same year as Edwards were inducted into the military. His draft availability aside, Edwards could have enlisted in the military, following the example of the men he now calls liars. Or sign up for the National Guard, the way George Bush did. John Edwards, however, did neither, enlisting instead in Clemson University, where, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri, "He had a little fun . . . drinking beer with buddies . . . smoking marijuana a few times." ........

I think it was Edwards who used the out-of-context quote against Cheney when Cheney supposedly said something to the effect of having better things to do....sounds like the "silky pony" (to borrow from Laura Ingraham) had better things to do as well.

Quoted: Quoted: legal Deferment or a favorable lottery number? I am 9 months older than J.E and I simply never got the call. Maybe the same thing happened to him.

Possible...but you ain't hangin'out with a Socialist that wants to run the country, badmouthing anothers' guard service.

Because he's a Democrat?

Laura Ingraham calls him the "silky pony"

Quoted: Laura Ingraham calls him the "silky pony"

I love her show.  Silky Pony and Butt Monkeys.

GunLvr

I don’t see the relevance of the “high draft number” term that Couric so conveniently supplied – he was either drafted or not.  Plus, per hk940’s link, above, his number wasn’t that high anyway.

Seems like that phrase is just a cop-out for why he didn’t serve (it was the Draft Board’s fault!!).

Plus, at least when I was in the Army in the late 1960’s, you also had the option of enlisting (generally a 3 year tour) or of “volunteering for the draft” (2 year tour).

If he had wanted to, he could have gotten in!!

I was boern in 53 , my number was 99....I was never called and I wanted to go...