Patrick, Delaware, 1969. No. 355: Deep Wound

My story is much like many draft age men in December 1969.  I was a 5th year Architectural Senior, recently married, and living in an off-campus non-UK apartment on North Main Street in Lexington. Since architecture was a five year program, I needed a...

Doug, California, 1969. No. 024: Still Wondering

I enlisted in the Navy the summer of 1968 following high school graduation. I didn’t go to boot camp until January 1969 and was stationed at Naval Air Station, Key West, Fla when the draft lottery was held. I felt relieved I was in the Navy and not a grunt in...

David, Kentucky, 1969. No. 50: Late Eligibility

I had a student deferment up until May 1970, when I failed the the pre-induction physical due to an ear infection.  I was retested in November and passed.  I got my I-A classification in December 1970 after the December call had already been...

Vic, Ohio, 1969. No. 250: Interesting Years

I entered college at UK as a freshman in 1966. I was in the ROTC program, which meant I had a I-A draft classification–no  student deferral. When the lottery drawing took place my number was 250. My draft board said they would probably not go over 115. As...

Robert Neil, England, 1972. No. 358: Seasonal Singalong

Although I have already written a story dated 12 December 2009 about "jumping for joy" I have composed lyrics about celebrating exemption from conscription for the Vietnam War by luck of the draw to the tune of a Christmas Carol called "Joy To The...

Wally, Kentucky, 1969. No 323: The Politics of War

After four years at the U of K (’65 to ’69) I needed one more hour to graduate. I could take that one hour anywhere, and still earn my degree from U of K (which I did). So I decided to take some classes at Murray Stata University, to try another campus. I...