William O. Douglas

“ The truth of the matter is that it was the Selective Service Board that acted in a 'lawless' manner; and when its error is so egregious, it would be a travesty of justice to require a registrant-whether or not sophisticated-to pursue the administrative remedies that are designed for quite different categories of cases. ”

“ This statutory exemption is as clear as the one in Oestereich. The 'sole survivin' son of a family whose father had been killed in action is exempt and there can hardly be any argument that petitioner is such a 'son' though both his father and mother are dead. He is indeed the last male heir of the line and therefore one who Congress charitably decided should not be exposed to the chance of death in warfare. ”