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...
by | Apr 17, 2018 | Stories
I earned a BS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri in May 1970. On June 22, I took a train, for my first-ever train ride, from my hometown of Hermann, Missouri, to St. Louis. On June 23, 1970, I was inducted into the Army to serve my beloved...
by | Apr 14, 2018 | Stories
Regarding the first draft lottery in 1969, I remember it well. I was working at The Missourian when the lottery was initiated that December night. The draft lottery numbers were released over the AP wire after each group of 20 numbers was drawn. The wire bell would...
by | Apr 8, 2018 | Stories
In 1969 my roommates and I were seniors at Ohio State. We were all in ROTC and were already committed to serving but there was still drama the night of the lottery. WOSU radio was broadcasting the lottery. They played Herbie Mann’s Battle Hymn of the Republic...
by | Apr 8, 2018 | Stories
I was sitting on a bar stool in a pizza place just above Broadway on Eighth Street in Columbia, Mo. I had a draft Coors in front of me and above, behind the bar, the TV was live as they drew birth dates to match draft lottery numbers. Too young and still not too...
by | Apr 4, 2018 | Stories
Today in 2018 I found out why I did not go to Vietnam in 1972. I entered Colorado College in 1970 amid the controversy over the war. The lottery had begun in 1969 and I knew I would get a number. I knew student deferments were toast. On August 5,1971, I pulled number...
