I remember the lottery well. My number was 56. That was a guarantee to be drafted, but it did not matter to me as I had signed a ROTC contract in September of ’69 and was effectively already a private in the US Army Reserve. I served on active duty in Asia for two years after graduation and eventually completed a 36 year career as a Colonel in the Reserves.
So, did it affect my life – not really. My dad was Chairman of Local
Board 151 and he guaranteed me he would draft me if I did not take a
commission! My draft number was irrelevant.