The US entered the Vietnam War in March of 1965, and Mickey decided to be drafted instead of enlisting. (Being drafted meant only serving two years, not three.) He wasn’t motivated to serve his country out of a sense of patriotic duty. He just wanted to get his service over with so he could come back to his life.

In July, 1965 Mickey went off to boot camp at Fort Dix, NJ. This is the first letter I have from him:

• 

At this point, Arlene and Mickey are still just friends. She agrees to write to him while he’s away. It’s all just chill. UNTIL…

He comes home on a 24-hour leave. The gang’s all together, goofing around while they are driving around the neighborhood. Somehow, Arlene winds up sitting on Mickey’s lap. At this point, the chemistry between them is undeniable. Later on that night, Mickey comes over to the house to see Arlene. Sitting together on the blue couch with the plastic slipcovers, he leans over and kisses Arlene for the first time. And that was it.

From then on, it was as if no one else in the universe existed. They were Mickey and Arlene.