Randy, California, 1969. No. 3: Clogging The Court

by | Jun 22, 2009 | Stories

On that fateful December 1, 1969, I learned that my birthday was picked No. 3 but it didn’t occur to me to panic, because I was young and stupid and just couldn’t imagine being drafted.  I left UCLA in the fall of 1970 and went off to Stanford for...

Thomas, California, 1969. No. 1: One Minute Too Soon

by | Jun 22, 2009 | Stories

I was in the process of completing my Junior year at UCLA and was returning for dinner at my fraternity house from my part-time job while the lottery was in process.  When one of my fraternity brothers asked me when I was born (September 14th), he informed me...

Marc, Colorado, 1969. No. 152: Co-ed Tickle Fight

by | Jun 21, 2009 | Stories

I graduated with a BA in theater arts from UCLA in March, 1970. My II-S student deferment was thus no longer valid and my lottery number was 152. Not long after I left school, the infamous "Greetings" letter arrived. Lucky for me, I was a lifelong...

Gil, Montana, 1969. No. 285: Miracle Hernia

by | Jun 21, 2009 | Stories

Had a II-S student deferment in college from 1964 to 1968, took army physical Sept 1968 and they found a hernia I didn’t know I had, making me temporarily "unacceptable" (the army offered to repair my hernia–I declined).  Lived with my...