by | Jul 16, 2008 | Stories
My birthday is November 6, 1947, so I was in the 1969 draft lottery and pulled number 76. In the summer of ’68, with a year left to run on my student deferment, I made a "dry run" to Toronto just to see if it would be possible to get over the...
by | Jul 14, 2008 | Stories
I was a very high number (364)–and I was touched when my girlfriend called me up ecstatic. I hadn’t been too worried, though–I had figured my terrible vision would keep me out. Still, it was great to hear that the draft wouldn’t ruin my...
by | Jul 13, 2008 | Stories
It was a grey day as the numbers began to be called out for the first ever lottery in modern times. I was a senior in college preparing to graduate in 1970 and unsure as to my future. Join the service, go to Canada or disappear. I had been 1-A...
by | Jul 10, 2008 | Stories
Well today is my birthday (July 9). About 38 years ago I hit the jackpot with No. 1 in the lottery. It forever shaped my future. You could not get a decent job because the first thing they would ask you was "What’s your number". Answer would be...
by | Jul 9, 2008 | Stories
I was a student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 1969 was the first year of the draft. I sat in the packed Rathskellar (Student Union) the night of the first draft and watched as they pulled dates out of the lottery bin. It was a tough,...
by | Jul 9, 2008 | Stories
I was scheduled to graduate from the University of Wisconsin in June of 1969 but needed an extra semester to finish. I was classifed 1-A beginning when my student deferment ended in June, and I received a middle level draft number. I started my career...
