Chris, Missouri, 1969. No. 007: On My Own Terms

At the time of the draft lottery I had 3 roommates in an off campus apartment.  I was a first year law student. One guy was in the Coast Guard, one was in Navy ROTC and due to be commissioned an Ensign, the third was a draft dodger who swore that if he got...

Alan, North Carolina, 1969. No. 128: Admonition From A Sergeant

In that first draft lottery I drew number 128, and most of the significant events in my life flowed from that moment, in one way or the other. After graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1970, I began preparing to be drafted for service in Southeast Asia. A friend...

Steve, Kansas, 1969: At the Fieldhouse

I vividly remember being in Allen Fieldhouse, at a KU basketball game, sitting with friends in seats directly behind the basket (where we always sat), when I learned that my lottery number was sufficiently high that I could avoid going to war.  It was...

Cliff, Kansas, 1969. No. 179: Agony and Ecstasy

I was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon at KU when the initial draft lottery was held. Like a number of houses, we had a $5 pool amongst the members with the lowest draft number winning the pool. The chapter room was packed with guys as the draft pull began. Everyone was...

Carmelo, Kansas, 1969. No. 168: Temporary Sigh of Relief

I recall being very nervous before the lottery. My GPA was struggling at the time as I had just been dismissed for poor scholarship, and had to apply for probation status to continue for one more semester. My brother Charles and I were registered with Draft Board 100...

Bill, Kansas, 1969. No 008: The Difference A Day Makes

I was a sophomore at KU when the drawing was held, but having a student deferment kept me from dwelling on the reality of the situation.  As 1971 was nearing its end, I had accepted my certain fate and had even signed up to get the physical (just in case I...