I turned 18 in November of 1971. I was a long-haired pot-smoking hippie in my first semester of college. I was totally against the war. There was no college deferment at the time (nor should there have been in my opinion).
I remember feeling existentially stuck. I looked for ways out, but found none. I’d like to think I would have gone if called, but will never know for sure.
One big Stephen King death roulette wheel. If it landed on your number you were screwed.
[Editor’s note: The draft lottery held February 2, 1972 was the last, and applied only to men born in 1953. It was to determine the "order of call" for 1973, but because no draft orders were issued after 1972, participants in the 1972 lottery were not drafted.]