As the Vietnam war continued, there were a number of American Baháʼís who were stationed in Vietnam, but following the Baháʼí teaching of the sacredness of all life and of obedience to one's government, Baháʼís would request to avoid being placed in a position to take the life of another, and thus American Baháʼís served as clerks and medics as non-combatants.[37][38][39][40] By April 1973, 687 Local Spiritual Assemblies had been formed, and Baháʼís could be found in 1,685 localities.