John, California, 1969. Drafted to Hawaii.

Although my birth date is 1948, I was already drafted and serving by the time of the first lottery. I was drafted and ordered to service on May 21, 1969. I have been told the May 1969 draft call was the month of the largest draft in U.S history. It was a few months...

Hal, North Carolina, 1969. No. 29: Coast Guard

The night of the 1969 draft lottery, about a half dozen of my college friends in Avery Dormitory at UNC-Chapel Hill gathered in one room to watch the lottery on television. All of us would be subject to the outcome of this draft. Perhaps it was a premonition that...

George, North Carolina, 1969. No. 174: Divinity School

Well I sure remember those formative days of my life as well. I too was eligible for the 69 draft lottery. I got a middle third number 174. I knew my chances were good of getting taken against my will, being humiliated and dehumanized and inducted into a military...

Wes, North Carolina, 1969. No. 210: Flunked out

I remember listening to the radio broadcast of the 1969 draft lottery with my college roomate. Graduation was approaching for both of us, and the end of student deferment. The lottery would determine if life after college required a risky two-year tour in Southeast...