Harold, Virginia, 1970. No. 88: Influenced the Rest of my Life

With a lottery number of 88, I knew I would be drafted. I had a choice, I could be a guy picking up cigarette butts during police call… or I could be a guy watching other guys picking up cigarette butts… a student deferment (I-S) would only get me through...

Ted, Washington, 1971. No. 188: Those in My Place

I listed 188 as my lottery number based on charts available online. But my hazy recollection from when I was 18 is a bit different from what I find online. According to online resources, my draft lottery would have been in 1971 for men born in 1952. But by 1971 I was...

Jimbo, Illinois, 1969. No. 296: Didn’t Rely on Luck

Well, what can I say? I got 296. Since the highest it went in 1970 was 195, I lucked-out. But, it got two thirds of the way to my supposedly great number. I didn’t rely on luck. I did a foreign studies program in Canada. Just to hedge my bets. My old man got...

Pete, Florida, 1971. No. 005: A Blessing in Disguise

I was a senior at Duke University, already accepted to medical school when the draft occurred. We had 100 residents in my dorm who contributed $1 each for the lottery, with the lowest (first) birthday number drawn winning. I won the $100, and the next day went to the...

Reggie, Texas, 1969. No. 31: Three Brothers

We three brothers were watching the lottery on TV in our family room in Dallas. I was the oldest, then Danny and Ronnie. Danny got # 11 and Ron and I teased him. I got # 31. Ron teased me. Over an hour later Ron got # 342. He told us I am never going! Danny joined the...

Roberto, Utah, 1969. No. 365: Next to Last

I was a senior at the Y, in Provo, Utah, married, with one child. When I lost my 2-S deferment, by aging out, I had to do the Draft physical, which I passed, and I got notice that I could expect to be drafted very soon, based on age. When the induction notice came, I...