"Which I would've done 'cause I volunteered for the draft which meant that I only had to do two years. But when the Cubans had missiles in the Canal and Kennedy made the extension, I was one of the ones who had enough time to be extended"

Edwin Starr recounts his experience with the U.S. military draft during a period of intense global tension. He mentions that he volunteered for the draft, a choice that reduced his required service from the standard three years, for those who enlisted, to just two. This shows a calculated decision; volunteering would allow him to fulfill his duty but return to civilian life sooner. The reference to "when the Cubans had missiles in the Canal" serves as a reminder of the Cold War environment that influenced policies and personal destinies. Though historically, the Cuban Missile Crisis centered on Cuba rather than the Panama Canal, Starr’s recollection intertwines the threats of the era: Soviet missiles discovered close to U.S. territory and the global anxiety it provoked.

President Kennedy, in response to these threats, implemented an extension of military service for personnel whose terms were expiring. Starr becomes part of the cohort affected by this decree, even though, under normal circumstances, he would have finished his obligation. The feeling is palpable, a sense of being caught up in world events far beyond personal control, where the decisions of leaders and the maneuvers of rival nations could dictate the fate of individuals.

Starr’s narrative exposes both the bureaucracy and the unpredictability of military life at that time. By opting for the shorter term through volunteering, he had tried to exert agency over his own life. However, that agency is quickly undermined by the larger forces at play. The term "had enough time to be extended" underscores how rules could shift in times of crisis, suspending earlier agreements. His personal story intertwines with a pivotal moment in history, illustrating the way ordinary people are swept along, their plans disrupted and their futures determined by the decisions of those in power, and the wider sweep of global politics.