Ray, Florida, 1969. No. 65: The Speeding Heart

I had a II-S college deferment in 1969 when they did the draft lottery. The year before there was something of a pre-cursor to the lottery in that if you were in college, you had to take a nationwide SAT-like test and get a minimum score to keep the II-S...

Danny, New York, 1969. No. 48: Wages of Fear

In the years I attended the University of Wisconsin, 1967-1971, my classes seemed to be sandwiched between attending a never-ending series of protests and going to hundreds of movies on campus. On December 1, 1969, the day of the first draft lottery, the classic...

Mickey, Tennessee, 1969: No. 194: On The Bubble

I can still remember Lottery Night like it was last night.  I was a Resident Advisor in Sledd C Hall in my senior year at the University of Florida.  Most of the guys from the dorm were gathered in my room listening to the radio.  The rumor was...

Dick, 1969. No. 352: What Will Be Will Be

I graduated from college in May 1969 on a 2-S deferment. I was almost simultaneously reclassified 1-A and took (and passed) my physical at the Chicago induction center in June or July 1969. I also got married that summer and was accepted into grad...

Charles, Florida, 1970. No. 215: Last To Be Called

The lottery will always be for me one of those events one always remembers where he or she was when it took place.  I was in my car on the way back from Jacksonville, Fl, after a University of Florida basketball game.  In the car were my roommate...

Michael, 1969. No. 360: One Came Back

I was born on June 20, 1950.  At the time of the draft lottery I worked at U.S. Steel and I still do. My best friend, who is the same age as me, also worked at the mill. We always rode to work together. I remember on the night of the very first draft we were...