Steve, New York, 1969. No. 330: Medical Draft

My initial experience with the Selective Service dates to May 1966 when I registered shortly after turning 18.  New York, where I lived at the time, provided a strong motive for getting a draft card:  it was one of the best ways to prove...

Glenn, North Carolina, 1969. No. 167: National Guard

On the night of the lottery, we gathered in front of the TV at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house on Cameron Avenue. We had all chipped in for a "fifth" of whiskey and had set it on top of the television set; it was to be awarded to the first person...

William, North Carolina, 1969. No. 310: 4-F

I was a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill when the first draft was held.  I was already classified 4-F due to a football injury in high school.  My birthday (November 5) was #310 in the draft, so I was exempt from the draft for two reasons.  I don’t...

John, California, 1969. Drafted to Hawaii.

Although my birth date is 1948, I was already drafted and serving by the time of the first lottery. I was drafted and ordered to service on May 21, 1969. I have been told the May 1969 draft call was the month of the largest draft in U.S history. It was a few months...

Hal, North Carolina, 1969. No. 29: Coast Guard

The night of the 1969 draft lottery, about a half dozen of my college friends in Avery Dormitory at UNC-Chapel Hill gathered in one room to watch the lottery on television. All of us would be subject to the outcome of this draft. Perhaps it was a premonition that...

George, North Carolina, 1969. No. 174: Divinity School

Well I sure remember those formative days of my life as well. I too was eligible for the 69 draft lottery. I got a middle third number 174. I knew my chances were good of getting taken against my will, being humiliated and dehumanized and inducted into a military...