Dave, North Carolina, 1969. No. 326: The Morning After

I was attending NC State and living in an apartment with two roommates. One of my friends (Tim) from Campbell College showed up at the apartment and suggested we all go out partying as the lottery could change our lives forever. (We were all I-A). My two roomies...

Ray, New Jersey, 1969. No. 105: Stunned But Happy

I was a senior at North Carolina State University when the 1969 lottery was held, and when my number came up as 105, it seemed inevitable that I would be drafted. I decided, though, that I would live my life just as I had intended before the lottery, and let the chips...

David, Alabama, 1969. No. 110: Soldiers Of The Lottery

I was a senior at NC State and deeply (perhaps too deeply) involved in ROTC, when the draft took place.  Like most of my fellow students, the night of the lottery, I was in the TV room watching and when my number came up as 110, I was actually happy I was in ROTC...

William, North Carolina, 1969. No. 158: Haven't Jumped Since

Student deferment -1966-1970Joined the Army October 1970Went to 5th Special Forces Group right after the 5th PCSed to Ft. Bragg, so no Viet Nam for meSeptember 1973 got out and went to Graduate SchoolNovember 1975 joined 19th Special Forces Group and left it August...

Jay, North Carolina, 1969. No. 48: Goodbye Grad School

My senior year at NC State University I earned a full scholarship to graduate school in Virginia when I drew 48 in the lottery.  I knew I was going into the service since my student exemption would not carry over.  I accepted a job with Eastman Chemical...

Ivan, North Carolina, 1969. No. 358: A Great Night To Drink

Do I remember that night? Hell YEAH. 358!!I was on the Technician school newspaper staff and they had a teletype machine. They started the lottery on the radio but quit after ten numbers.  As I was driving over to the office I heard, blah blah 24. My birthday is...