After graduation in ’69 I went to work for a large science company which
had over twenty engineers affected by the lottery. We had our own lottery that
cost $5 to get in; in ’69 a dime could buy morning coffee, the afternoon candy
bar and the daily newspaper. A student year at KU including living in the dorm
cost a total of $1,500.
had over twenty engineers affected by the lottery. We had our own lottery that
cost $5 to get in; in ’69 a dime could buy morning coffee, the afternoon candy
bar and the daily newspaper. A student year at KU including living in the dorm
cost a total of $1,500.
The lottery winner got the money and quickly enlisted to be an officer
since his school did not have ROTC. The ladies? Ha, there was only one that I
knew of in the School of Engineering.
since his school did not have ROTC. The ladies? Ha, there was only one that I
knew of in the School of Engineering.
Lottery night my wife and I were at the laundromat and listened on our
transistor radio. I grew up in Johnson County where so many had gone to college
that there were not enough to fill the draft board quota. Like Dick Cheney, I
had four years of student deferments. The only way to assure you kept it was to
keep your GPA above B (2.0); the girlfriend did not understand why I always
picked studying over being with her. This was pre-grade inflation where the
honor roll was the top 10% at around 2.3.
transistor radio. I grew up in Johnson County where so many had gone to college
that there were not enough to fill the draft board quota. Like Dick Cheney, I
had four years of student deferments. The only way to assure you kept it was to
keep your GPA above B (2.0); the girlfriend did not understand why I always
picked studying over being with her. This was pre-grade inflation where the
honor roll was the top 10% at around 2.3.
Immediately after graduation the draft board reclassified me I-A and I had
taken my draft physical in September. Both my company and I (in person) asked for an
occupational deferment which was denied so we asked for my case to be
transferred from Kansas. The company had many military contracts.
taken my draft physical in September. Both my company and I (in person) asked for an
occupational deferment which was denied so we asked for my case to be
transferred from Kansas. The company had many military contracts.
On lottery night as each number was drawn, my blood pressure slowly eased.
Eventually I got a 290.
Eventually I got a 290.
Did I win? Certainly thousands did not. Another guy told his draft board
he was going to join ROTC but did not. His number was 311 and he was later
elected Commander-in-Chief.
he was going to join ROTC but did not. His number was 311 and he was later
elected Commander-in-Chief.