Editing Curt Weldon (section)

== Early life and education ==
Weldon grew up in a [[Blue-collar worker|blue-collar]] family in [[Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania]]. He was the youngest of nine children. He attended [[West Chester University of Pennsylvania]] and earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[Russian studies]] in 1969, making him the first in his family to graduate from college. At [[West Chester University]], Weldon became a brother of [[Lambda Chi Alpha]] fraternity.

After graduation, Weldon was subject to the draft, with the [[Vietnam War]] ongoing. In November 2000, his office said he used student and teaching deferments during the Vietnam era, and had a low number when the draft lottery was reinstated.<ref>Marlene DiGiacomo, [http://www.delcotimes.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=1108920&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=8 "Curt demands count of military ballots"]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Delaware County Times'', November 23, 2000</ref> In July 2006, a Weldon spokesman said that Weldon "wanted to serve, but the military would not take him because of his extremely poor eyesight."<ref>William Bender, [http://www.delcotimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16976432&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=6 "Pa. GOP rips Sestak for wearing Navy uniform"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313030502/http://www.delcotimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16976432&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=6 |date=2007-03-13 }}, ''Delaware County Times'', July 27, 2006</ref>