Charles, Indiana. The Draft v. All Volunteer Force

In 1969 I was an undergraduate student at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. I had served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960-1964.  My classification was "non-obligated". In 1965 I joined the Air Force Reserve and served at Richards-Gebaurs AFB, MO. I...

Tom, Pennsylvania, 1969. No. 283: Not the Winner

In 1969 I transferred to KU as a junior and lived in Ellsworth Hall.  We had a great group of guys on my floor and the lottery was a big deal that all of us viewed with trepidation. As that first lottery night approached the tension mounted–all of us...

Bob, Texas, 1969. No. 309: Follow The Dream

The only reason I was going to school at Texas Tech was because of the Vietnam War. I had a student deferment and as long as I stayed in school and made my grades, for the immediate future at least, I couldn’t be "called up." I didn’t know what...

Kevin, Ohio, 1969. No. 273: Moans and Cheers at Sigma Nu.

All the brothers were gathered in the basement of the Sigma Nu house for the drawing. There were moans and cheers going on all night. Many got low birth dates and rushed out to join the National Guard the next day. I for one got a fairly high number abd...

Bud, Michigan, 1969. No. 061: Thanks For Nothing

Out of high school in 1968. Drafted into the Army 1970. Sent to Vietnam 1970. 15 months in-country, discharged. Welcomed back at the Chicago Airport in 1971 by protesters yelling "baby killer". Muscle problems at the age of 63 due to Agent Orange exposure....