Sam, NC, 1969. No. 313: Unusual How Things Happen

I was in the advanced portion of Air Force ROTC at NCSU when the first drawing of the lottery was held. My lottery number came out 313. I went to the Commandant of Cadets and requested a departure from the program. I was informed that I had two choices: stay in the...

Hilton, California, 1969. No. 10: A Taste For Travel

I was just talking with a friend tonight about the draft lottery at dinner here in Florence, Italy.I was born, grew up and went to school in Raleigh, N.C., including of course N.C. State. My draft number of 10 was chosen in the very first lottery based on my birthday....

Charles, NC, 1969. No. 362: Flat-Footed

I was married at the time of the lottery, with a one year-old son. I had been using the student deferment, but due to my low GPA I was out of school for a semester. There goes my deferment. I was called for physicals two times and got out due to flat feet. I was...

David, Georgia, 1969. No Effect On Me

Being in AFROTC from 1967 to 1971, the lottery had no effect on me. I don’t even remember the lottery nights that others are mentioning. I graduated in 1971, was commissioned 2nd LT, went to grad school for 2 years, entered active duty in 1973, served in...

Robert, Texas, 1969. No. 366: After The Fact

Of course there was a lot of interest among the male students concerning the December 1969 draft lottery drawing–the Vietnam war, although winding down, was still very much a war, and deferments were no longer available to engineering students. I wasn’t...

Walt, NC, 1969. No. 6: All Should Serve

On the night of the televised lottery, my girlfriend and I had gone to the library to study together.  On my return to the fraternity house, I learned that I missed the first 12 draft picks.  The brothers had put together a draft pool for the unlucky...