by | Jul 21, 2018 | Stories
I married my High School sweetheart in January prior to my graduation in 1969. She was soon pregnant so after graduation I decided to enlist for OCS rather than be drafted. I took Basic at Ft. Leonard Wood and AIT at Ft Polk. Afterwards was assigned to the Cav as a...
by | Jun 13, 2018 | Stories
I was No. 53 and it affected my life tremendously. I went down that next afternoon, joined the Air Force, and was accepted into pilot training. I did well and actually found I had a god-given ability to fly fighters. I flew F-4s in Vietnam, became an instructor early...
by | May 31, 2018 | Stories
I became classified as 1-A in April 1971, after leaving the US Air Force Academy and passing the army physical. I then attended college, fully expecting to be called during that Spring semester. However, in approximately November or December 1971, Sec. of Defense...
by | May 23, 2018 | Stories
I “avoided” the draft by joining the US Army Reserves in 1968. Since I was already in, the draft was not a concern for me. On draft night, I arrived late in joining a group of frat brothers listening to the numbers being called. Of the remaining numbers, mine...
by | Apr 21, 2018 | Stories
I was living in Hardin House at the time of the lottery. I was a senior at the time and I graduated in January 1970. The draft had a bigger influence on my future career than it did on my education because regardless of the number, I probably would have completed my...
by | Apr 20, 2018 | Stories
I was working at the Columbia Missourian that night. I took a quick look at the numbers before going out on a reporting assignment. But I saw only the most recent birth dates picked, and the lottery was still ongoing. Pressed for time, I went to my assignment thinking...
