I was attending UCLA and lived in a frat house in 1969. I had made the decision to not apply for my school deferment after being denied a conscientious objector status. I was subsequently classified I-A. I sat around a radio with my frat brothers intently listening to the drawing of birthdays which determined the lottery number. The first date announced was Sept. 14. I let out a sigh of relief since my birthday is on May 29. The date seemed familiar though and I soon remembered that my younger brother was born on that day. He had recently dropped out of junior college and had also become classified as I-A. His birthday selection guaranteed his induction. He decided to enlist into the Army and eventually served in Vietnam. I was fortunate and didn’t hear my birthday called until it was the 226th. That evening I became the number two son since the draft had made my brother number one despite my being the oldest son. I never was drafted since that first year of the draft I don’t believe they got past number 195. The following year they had to go through the newest eligible birthdays before selecting from the previous year. Lucky me.
