Keith, Kansas, 1969. No. 327: America Was Saved

I could never recall my SSN without looking it up until I turned 65, but my draft number in the lottery is one I have never forgotten. July 6th, No. 327.  Even though I had no trouble maintaining my grades, that announcement removed all pressure from the...

Pat, Missouri, 1969. No. 027: Poor Choice of Day To Be Born

The night of the first draft lottery all the guys in my fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, were listening to the radio for the draft numbers to be called. When my birthday (July 21st) was called as No. 27, there was a great deal of screaming and yelling at my expense by my...

Mark, Kansas, 1969. No. 300: Not Considered Equal

I was in the first class to be in the lottery but unlike the class to follow we were still able to keep our student deferment if we stayed in college.  I was living in Ellsworth Hall at KU and all the guys were gathered around the 7th floor lobby TV as it...

David, Kansas, 1969. No. 195: Renege on the Pledge

Oliver Hall, 10th Floor, had a TV in the common area lobby. Everybody gathered to watch the lottery as it was broadcast live. As numbers came out, there were groans and cheers. I drew number 195, reasonably safe, but it was irrelevant to me because I had a I-D...

Chris, Missouri, 1969. No. 007: On My Own Terms

At the time of the draft lottery I had 3 roommates in an off campus apartment.  I was a first year law student. One guy was in the Coast Guard, one was in Navy ROTC and due to be commissioned an Ensign, the third was a draft dodger who swore that if he got...

Alan, North Carolina, 1969. No. 128: Admonition From A Sergeant

In that first draft lottery I drew number 128, and most of the significant events in my life flowed from that moment, in one way or the other. After graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1970, I began preparing to be drafted for service in Southeast Asia. A friend...