by | Nov 11, 2016 | Stories
When I entered college in 1965 I knew that no war in our history had lasted over 5 years, and was convinced that Vietnam would not either. Surely I could nurse a II-S deferment for that long. I’d graduate and live happily ever after! Well, that...
by | Nov 7, 2016 | Stories
I was a senior student at the University of Missouri in the fall of 1969 and was due to graduate in May of 1970 thereby losing my college exemption. On lottery night I went with all my other Sigma Nu fraternity senior brothers to our favorite beer joint in...
by | Oct 25, 2016 | Stories
My friends and I met at the Heidelburg Tavern to watch the drawing on TV. I went to college because I was able to get a student deferment. When they did away with that, it was the lottery that protected me. My number that night was 274 and I was happy...
by | Oct 9, 2016 | Stories
The evening of the first lottery drawing, I was listening to the radio in my apartment while shaving and showering in preparation for a date with my wife-to-be, Carol. I thought I’d heard my birth date announced very early, but I wasn’t sure. ...
by | Sep 17, 2016 | Stories
Vietnam conscription was my negative reinforcement to remain in college, not drop out in my sophomore year on account of indecision. When I graduated high school 1965 it was with honors and a full scholarship to VMI (VA Military Institute) if I wanted it. Because of...
by | Aug 17, 2016 | Stories
I enlisted in the US Army Reserve in 1968, being one of the thousands of graduate students whose deferments were cancelled by LBJ in the spring of 1968. At that time, before the lottery, the draft was applied on the basis of oldest first. All of us who had...
