by | Sep 10, 2021 | Stories
For years I thought my number was 246. I recently checked and it was actually 104. The highest number drawn that year was 95. I was my parents’ only child, about to be a college sophomore, and there was a sense the war might be coming to an end. Nonetheless, I...
by | Sep 10, 2021 | Stories
Drafted and spit on in an airport. …..today’s Army personnel have no idea how good they have it for their service to be viewed so honored. Upon completing an MSEE degree, the notice to report to my induction center in Florida arrived (36). What followed...
by | Sep 10, 2021 | Stories
In 1969, I totally opposed the Vietnam War but I was #41 in the draft lottery. I was at UCLA so I had a 2-S student deferment but once I graduated I would be reclassified 1-A and drafted. I went to free draft counseling at Papa Bach Bookstore (deep gratitude to the...
by | May 24, 2021 | Stories
I have no memory of the lottery drawing, but I guess I watched the event with my dorm mates. I was raised in a pacifist Protestant denomination and had no difficulty achieving conscientious objector (CO) status. COs with the I-O classification were required to perform...
by | Apr 17, 2021 | Stories
I’ll never forget that day, listening to the numbers being pulled that would determine my future. I was a senior at Penn State and a bunch of us were hovered over the radio holding our breath as each number was pulled. It seemed so surreal. After hearing my...
