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Rain Man
06-14-2016, 10:28 PM
Fairplay and I had a conversation about this a while back. If you were 20 years old when the Vietnam draft lottery was started, what would have been your fate? Walk through the process and tell me if you would've been drafted.

(If you actually went through this process and I'm missing anything, correct me.)

Step 1. Do you get the letter telling you that you've been drafted?

They drew birthdays out of a hat, and you got drafted in the order in which your birthday was drawn. Look up your birthday here. According to the Selective Service website https://www.sss.gov/About/History-And-Records/lotter1, you got a draft letter if your number was 195 or lower.


Sep 14 1
Apr 24 2
Dec 30 3
Feb 14 4
Oct 18 5
Sep 6* 6
Oct 26 7
Sep 7* 8
Nov 22 9
Dec 6* 10
Aug 31 11
Dec 7* 12
Jul 8* 13
Apr 11 14
Jul 12 15
Dec 29 16
Jan 15 17
Sep 26 18
Nov 1* 19
Jun 4* 20
Aug 10 21
Jun 26 22
Jul 24 23
Oct 5* 24
Feb 19 25
Dec 14 26
Jul 21 27
Jun 5* 28
Mar 2* 29
Mar 31 30
May 24 31
Apr 1* 32
Mar 17 33
Nov 2* 34
May 7* 35
Aug 24 36
May 11 37
Oct 30 38
Dec 11 39
May 3* 40
Dec 10 41
Jul 13 42
Dec 9* 43
Aug 16 44
Aug 2* 45
Nov 11 46
Nov 27 47
Aug 8* 48
Sep 3* 49
Jul 7* 50
Nov 7* 51
Jan 25 52
Dec 22 53
Aug 5* 54
May 16 55
Dec 5* 56
Feb 23 57
Jan 19 58
Jan 24 59
Jun 21 60
Aug 29 61
Apr 21 62
Sep 20 63
Jun 27 64
May 10 65
Nov 12 66
Jul 25 67
Feb 12 68
Jun 13 69
Dec 21 70
Sep 10 71
Oct 12 72
Jun 17 73
Apr 27 74
May 19 75
Nov 6* 76
Jan 28 77
Dec 27 78
Oct 31 79
Nov 9* 80
Apr 4* 81
Sep 5* 82
Apr 3* 83
Dec 25 84
Jun 7* 85
Feb 1* 86
Oct 6* 87
Jul 28 88
Feb 15 89
Apr 18 90
Feb 7* 91
Jan 26 92
Jul 1* 93
Oct 28 94
Dec 24 95
Dec 16 96
Nov 8* 97
Jul 17 98
Nov 29 99
Dec 31 100
Jan 5* 101
Aug 15 102
May 30 103
Jun 19 104
Dec 8* 105
Aug 9* 106
Nov 16 107
Mar 1* 108
Jun 23 109
Jun 6* 110
Aug 1* 111
May 17 112
Sep 15 113
Aug 6* 114
Jul 3* 115
Aug 23 116
Oct 22 117
Jan 23 118
Sep 23 119
Jul 16 120
Jan 16 121
Mar 7* 122
Dec 28 123
Apr 13 124
Oct 2* 125
Nov 13 126
Nov 14 127
Dec 18 128
Dec 1* 129
May 15 130
Nov 15 131
Nov 25 132
May 12 133
Jun 11 134
Dec 20 135
Mar 11 136
Jun 25 137
Oct 13 138
Mar 6* 139
Jan 18 140
Aug 18 141
Aug 12 142
Nov 17 143
Feb 2* 144
Aug 4* 145
Nov 18 146
Apr 7* 147
Apr 16 148
Sep 25 149
Feb 11 150
Sep 29 151
Feb 13 152
Jul 22 153
Aug 17 154
May 6* 155
Nov 21 156
Dec 3* 157
Sep 11 158
Jan 2* 159
Sep 22 160
Sep 2* 161
Dec 23 162
Dec 13 163
Jan 30 164
Dec 4* 165
Mar 16 166
Aug 28 167
Aug 7* 168
Mar 15 169
Mar 26 170
Oct 15 171
Jul 23 172
Dec 26 173
Nov 30 174
Sep 13 175
Oct 25 176
Sep 19 177
May 14 178
Feb 25 179
Jun 15 180
Feb 8* 181
Nov 23 182
May 20 183
Sep 8* 184
Nov 20 185
Jan 21 186
Jul 20 187
Jul 5* 188
Feb 17 189
Jul 18 190
Apr 29 191
Oct 20 192
Jul 31 193
Jan 9* 194
Sep 24 195
Oct 24 196
May 9* 197
Aug 14 198
Jan 8* 199
Mar 19 200
Oct 23 201
Oct 4* 202
Nov 19 203
Sep 21 204
Feb 27 205
Jun 10 206
Sep 16 207
Apr 30 208
Jun 30 209
Feb 4* 210
Jan 31 211
Feb 16 212
Mar 8* 213
Feb 5* 214
Jan 4* 215
Feb 10 216
Mar 30 217
Apr 10 218
Apr 9* 219
Oct 10 220
Jan 12 221
Jun 28 222
Mar 28 223
Jan 6* 224
Sep 1* 225
May 29 226
Jul 19 227
Jun 2* 228
Oct 29 229
Nov 24 230
Apr 14 231
Sep 4* 232
Sep 27 233
Oct 7* 234
Jan 17 235
Feb 24 236
Oct 11 237
Jan 14 238
Mar 20 239
Dec 19 240
Oct 19 241
Sep 12 242
Oct 21 243
Oct 3* 244
Aug 26 245
Sep 18 246
Jun 22 247
Jul 11 248
Jun 1* 249
May 21 250
Jan 3* 251
Apr 23 252
Apr 6* 253
Oct 16 254
Sep 17 255
Mar 23 256
Sep 28 257
Mar 24 258
Mar 13 259
Apr 17 260
Aug 3* 261
Apr 28 262
Sep 9* 263
Oct 27 264
Mar 22 265
Nov 4* 266
Mar 3* 267
Mar 27 268
Apr 5* 269
Jul 29 270
Apr 2* 271
Jun 12 272
Apr 15 273
Jun 16 274
Mar 4* 275
May 4* 276
Jul 9* 277
May 18 278
Jul 4* 279
Jan 20 280
Nov 28 281
Nov 10 282
Oct 8* 283
Jul 10 284
Feb 29 285
Aug 25 286
Jul 30 287
Oct 17 288
Jul 27 289
Feb 22 290
Aug 21 291
Feb 18 292
Mar 5* 293
Oct 14 294
May 13 295
May 27 296
Feb 3* 297
May 2* 298
Feb 28 299
Mar 12 300
Jun 3* 301
Feb 20 302
Jul 26 303
Dec 17 304
Jan 1* 305
Jan 7* 306
Aug 13 307
May 28 308
Nov 26 309
Nov 5* 310
Aug 19 311
Apr 8* 312
May 31 313
Dec 12 314
Sep 30 315
Apr 22 316
Mar 9* 317
Jan 13 318
May 23 319
Dec 15 320
May 8* 321
Jul 15 322
Mar 10 323
Aug 11 324
Jan 10 325
May 22 326
Jul 6* 327
Dec 2* 328
Jan 11 329
May 1* 330
Jul 14 331
Mar 18 332
Aug 30 333
Mar 21 334
Jun 9* 335
Apr 19 336
Jan 22 337
Feb 9* 338
Aug 22 339
Apr 26 340
Jun 18 341
Oct 9* 342
Mar 25 343
Aug 20 344
Apr 20 345
Apr 12 346
Feb 6* 347
Nov 3* 348
Jan 29 349
Jul 2* 350
Apr 25 351
Aug 27 352
Jun 29 353
Mar 14 354
Jan 27 355
Jun 14 356
May 26 357
Jun 24 358
Oct 1* 359
Jun 20 360
May 25 361
Mar 29 362
Feb 21 363
May 5* 364
Feb 26 365
Jun 8* 366


Next, you showed up and got classified. Enclosed here are the classifications. The numbers are a little bit apples and oranges, but as far as I can tell, you had about a 1 in 6 chance of ending up in uniform if your draft number got called. Most people apparently got a classification that exempted them from service.

Here are the classifications.


1-A - Available for military service.

1-AM - Medical specialist available for military service.

1-A-O - Conscientious Objector - Conscientiously opposed to training and military service requiring the use of arms - fulfills his service obligation in a noncombatant position within the military. Those classified 1-A-O are conscientious objectors available for noncombatant military service.

1-A-OM - Medical specialist conscientious objector available for noncombatant military service.

1-C - Member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, or the Public Health Service. (Enl) - enlisted; (Ind) - inducted; (Dis) - discharged

1-D - Member of a Reserve component or student taking military training.

1-H - Registrant not currently subject to processing for induction or alternative service.
Note: Within the cessation of registrant processing in 1976, all registrants (except for a few alleged violators of the Military Selective Service Act) were classified 1-H regardless of any previous classification.

1-O - Conscientious objector available for civilian work contributing to the national health, safety or interest.

1-OM - Medical specialist conscientious objector available for civilian work contributing to the national health, safety or interest.

1-S - Student deferred by statue - (H) high school; (C) college.

1-W - Conscientious objector performing civilian work in the national health, safety or interest. (Rel) - Released.

1-Y - Registrant qualified for service only in time of war or national emergency.
Note: The 1-Y classification was abolished December 10, 1971. Local boards were subsequently instructed to reclassify all 1-Y registrants by administrative action.

2-A - Registrant deferred because of civilian occupation (except agriculture).

2-AM - Medical specialist deferred because of critical community need involving patient care.

2-C - Registrant deferred because of agricultural occupation.

2-D - Ministerial Students - Deferred from military service.

2-M - Registrant deferred for medical study.

2-S - Registrant deferred because of activity in study.

3-A - Hardship Deferment - Deferred from military service because service would cause hardship upon his family.

4-A - Registrant who has completed service; or sole surviving son.

4-B - Official deferred by law.

4-C - Alien or Dual National - Sometimes exempt from military service.

4-D - Ministers of Religion - Exempted from military service.

4-E - Conscientious objector opposed to both combatant and noncombatant training and service.

4-F - Registrant not qualified for military service. (Current physical causes of being classified as a 4f are found here, beginning with Section 2.3 on page 4 - http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r40_501.pdf

4-FM - Medical specialist not qualified for military service.

4-G - Sole surviving son. (Parent or sibling killed in the military)

4-W - Conscientious objector who has completed civilian alternate service.

5-A - Registrant over the age of liability for military service.


So would you have ended up in uniform?

As for me, I would've not even been close. My birthday drew Draft Number 363, so I wouldn't have even come into question. Even if I had been drafted, at age 20 I would've had a college student deferment and been a 1S. War? What war?

allen_kcCard
06-14-2016, 10:34 PM
Nope I was a number 280 and would have been college bound anyhow.

88TG88
06-14-2016, 10:39 PM
182

I wouldve gone, cant see myself being a dodger

Chiefspants
06-14-2016, 10:43 PM
7

I have spina bifida occulta, so I'd likely serve in a non-combat role.

Miles
06-14-2016, 10:46 PM
In top 25 dates taken but college deferment.

Superbowltrashcan
06-14-2016, 10:52 PM
I was born January 4, 1961 so I remember when the ball lottery on tv happened since I had three older sisters who had a list of birthdays of boys in the senior class, there were about sixty of them, and sat and gazed the list. With each date read off. My mom had friends over and they all had big annual church calendars, marking off dates so they could reference them when they started making calls to other women. I remember my Mom crying on the phone several times over the next few days. Knowing how little I knew then, had I been of age I would have gone. Knowing what I know now.... Question gets a lot tougher to answer.....

TinyEvel
06-14-2016, 11:02 PM
111 position.

But a college student deferment. If not I would have agreed to go. But my vision was -7 and -8. Maybe they'd have not taken me. Knock my glasses off and I couldn't tell an enemy from a tree stump from more than 3 feet.

BryanBusby
06-14-2016, 11:14 PM
Guess I would of been safe with being in slot number 354. I would qualify for 4-A classification otherwise.

Bob Dole
06-14-2016, 11:34 PM
257.

They wouldn't have taken Bob Dole because he is batshit crazy...

cdcox
06-14-2016, 11:52 PM
Way after 195 and college deferment.

Demonpenz
06-14-2016, 11:55 PM
I would have worked my ass off in boot camp then shooting myself in the head while cleaning my gun or some shit. My parents wouldn't even go to the wall because they said it didn't count.

Cheater5
06-15-2016, 04:12 AM
112, and a 1A.

Duty calls, you go.

Fire Me Boy!
06-15-2016, 04:29 AM
I drew 88. I would have been excluded because I was in college; and if not, I would have been 4F.

Gonzo
06-15-2016, 04:39 AM
LMAO
I was born on September 14th. I would've been fucked.

I was #1 GI.

Red Dawg
06-15-2016, 04:49 AM
I don't blame anyone who avoided that war. I respect the hell out of anyone that went but seriously that was a 10 year campaign only designed to make money. It was such a waste of life and time. Has there ever been a bigger pile of bullshit than Vietnam.

oldman
06-15-2016, 05:56 AM
I was in college and my number was 287. I promptly resigned my 2-S and went on about my business. I had the added confidence in doing so because I'd already failed my ROTC physical (20-200 in one eye).

HemiEd
06-15-2016, 06:14 AM
I was number 57 and didn't want to be in the Army or Marines. Joining the Navy was one of the best decisions I made at 18.

rico
06-15-2016, 06:24 AM
Wow, my brothers and I would have all lucked out. I am 328...the other 3 are 202, 314 and 332.

Wouldn't have been a "say goodbye-bye-bye Mrs. Sullivan" type of deal for my parents.

Hog's Gone Fishin
06-15-2016, 06:35 AM
I would have volunteered, become a Marine sniper and made Carlos Hatchcock envy my ass.

Frosty
06-15-2016, 06:46 AM
My number is 86 but I was in college. however, I was also in the Army National Guard until I was 23 so I'm not sure how that would have worked. Probably would have been called up.

stumppy
06-15-2016, 06:50 AM
255
I have no doubt I would have been politely asked to leave and not come back anyways.

Dartgod
06-15-2016, 07:01 AM
I am in the 300's. But they wouldn't take me anyway because I like to dress like a woman.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/fa/ff/ba/faffbad550b1f382bd6cd09858357ecf.jpg

Pasta Little Brioni
06-15-2016, 07:09 AM
Well not everyone would have been in college back then so who knows.

Saulbadguy
06-15-2016, 07:13 AM
I would have been drafted. But I would have got a doctors note.

Fire Me Boy!
06-15-2016, 07:14 AM
Well not everyone would have been in college back then so who knows.

I assume he meant whatever you were doing when you were actually 20, apply that to being 20 during the draft.

Pasta Little Brioni
06-15-2016, 07:21 AM
Well yeah but 90 percent wouldn't have been in college back then. You have to think like a rainman in a rainman thread :)

Amnorix
06-15-2016, 07:26 AM
Not in any particular order, but:

First, my number was too high.

Second, I would've had a college deferment.

Third, I wouldn't have passed the physical anyway, since my eyesight is so ridiculously piss-poor. Around 20/200 or thereabouts.


Great respect to all those who served, but that was the worst (as in stupidest) fucking war in American history, which is saying quite a bit. At its peak we had over half a million men serving over there, all trying to win a war that was for all practical purposes impossible to win, to accomplish precisely nothing of any significant strategic, military or political importance to the United States.

All because of stupid fucking politicians.

Fire Me Boy!
06-15-2016, 07:38 AM
Well yeah but 90 percent wouldn't have been in college back then. You have to think like a rainman in a rainman thread :)

We need a clarification from Rain Man. Maybe a way to randomly determine whether or not we'd have been in college.

Dragonocho
06-15-2016, 07:38 AM
I would have been Barnes. Nothing can kill Barnes, except Barnes.

oldandslow
06-15-2016, 07:40 AM
Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.

Combat Engineer...we made it safe for the infantry...lol

Dave Lane
06-15-2016, 07:47 AM
182

I wouldve gone, cant see myself being a dodger

Donald is ashamed of your lack of commitment to dodging.

Shaid
06-15-2016, 08:06 AM
309, I'd have been safe. The thing is, it probably would have depended on the situation. At the start of a war, everyone is patriotic. I got out of the military less than a year before my unit deployed to Iraq and I nearly signed back up to go with them. It felt like I was letting them down not going, even though none of them asked me to and would have all told me I was stupid for even considering it. For Vietnam though, that was one of those wars that didn't feel like our fight, I doubt I'd have felt the same and would have been happy to have pulled a low number.

kepp
06-15-2016, 08:08 AM
205 for me. I would have been in college anyway.

Predarat
06-15-2016, 08:39 AM
I'd ask if WW2 veteran Lt. Aldo Raine was still in command somewhere, maybe even promoted, if so I would ask to be part of his crew.

dirk digler
06-15-2016, 08:43 AM
138 but I would have enlisted anyway.

gblowfish
06-15-2016, 08:46 AM
351. And I went through this for real.

bobbymitch
06-15-2016, 09:00 AM
I had a 2-S deferment. As the draft continued, I received a letter from my local draft board stating that at the current rate, I'd be drafted by a certain date. And they changed my 2-S to a 1-A as they were running short of potential draftees.

It did give me some time to make decisions as to where I wanted to go. And since I could swim a lot better than run, I joined the Navy.

MahiMike
06-15-2016, 09:04 AM
No clue what my number was. I registered and would have gone like a young idiot. Today, I would tell my son to go to Canada.

Donger
06-15-2016, 09:06 AM
Low draft number with 1-S

Rain Man
06-15-2016, 09:14 AM
We need a clarification from Rain Man. Maybe a way to randomly determine whether or not we'd have been in college.


Yeah, we would have been more likely to not be in college in 1970 if we happen to be born later than 1950. However, it looks like there was a mysterious bump in college enrollment right about the time that the draft lottery started (go figure), so it's not as big a difference as one might expect, maybe low 60 percents in the year 2000 versus low 50 percents in the year 1970.

So maybe we think about this (rolling dice). If you would have had college deferment at the age of 20 in your own era, and the last digit of your home address is a 6 or a 7, then assume you wouldn't have had college deferment.

I would've lost my college deferment, but again with a draft number of 363 I wouldn't have been drafted unless NVA battalions were amassing outside Las Vegas.

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/images/2010/ted_20100428.png

Fire Me Boy!
06-15-2016, 09:17 AM
Yeah, we would have been more likely to not be in college in 1970 if we happen to be born later than 1950. However, it looks like there was a mysterious bump in college enrollment right about the time that the draft lottery started (go figure), so it's not as big a difference as one might expect, maybe low 60 percents in the year 2000 versus low 50 percents in the year 1970.

So maybe we think about this (rolling dice). If you would have had college deferment at the age of 20 in your own era, and the last digit of your home address is a 6 or a 7, then assume you wouldn't have had college deferment.

I would've lost my college deferment, but again with a draft number of 363 I wouldn't have been drafted unless NVA battalions were amassing outside Las Vegas.

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/images/2010/ted_20100428.png

Under your guidance, at 20, I still would have had a deferment for college, and still would have been 4F.

Rain Man
06-15-2016, 09:19 AM
Under your guidance, at 20, I still would have had a deferment for college, and still would have been 4F.

You and I would have been waving our flags for the veterans and enjoying chocolate milk shakes on Main Street. I'm kind of bummed about getting kicked out of 1970 college, though.

listopencil
06-15-2016, 10:24 AM
I assume he meant whatever you were doing when you were actually 20, apply that to being 20 during the draft.

I got my Honorable Discharge when I was 20. So, probably would have stayed in the Navy.

Rain Man
06-15-2016, 10:26 AM
I got my Honorable Discharge when I was 20. So, probably would have stayed in the Navy.

Did you decide pretty quickly it's not for you, or were you a career guy because your parents signed you up at birth?

listopencil
06-15-2016, 10:29 AM
Did you decide pretty quickly it's not for you, or were you a career guy because your parents signed you up at birth?

Went DEP for USNR, EOAD before I hit 21. Had fun, left. Did not appreciate the lack of females.

Chief_For_Life58
06-15-2016, 10:35 AM
my number would of been drafted but i would of enlisted before so. If my country called for my service I would go before they even called.

ModSocks
06-15-2016, 10:45 AM
#25.

But i thought there was some rule against drafting an only child, no?

Rain Man
06-15-2016, 10:58 AM
Went DEP ...

What does this mean?

...for USNR, EOAD

What does this mean?

... before I hit 21. Had fun, left. Did not appreciate the lack of females.

I understand this part completely.

Spokane Chief Fan
06-15-2016, 10:59 AM
#150

I would have proudly served my country.

Rain Man
06-15-2016, 11:00 AM
#25.

But i thought there was some rule against drafting an only child, no?

Apparently if you had a parent or sibling killed in military service, you were exempted. But not if you were just an only child.

MeaTy The Pimp
06-15-2016, 11:03 AM
I would have gone.

167 and 1a

Frosty
06-15-2016, 11:16 AM
At least being in the Guards meant I would be in my chosen MOS instead of just being handed a rifle.

DaneMcCloud
06-15-2016, 11:18 AM
#196, so I wouldn't have been drafted.

I would have likely tried to join the Air Force but my vision, pre-LASIK, would have disqualified me from the Armed Forces, as it was 20/500 in one eye and 20/575 in the other. I had astigmatism as well (-4.25 and -3.75).

Since LASIK in 2007, it's 20/15.

Cheater5
06-15-2016, 11:23 AM
At least being in the Guards meant I would be in my chosen MOS instead of just being handed a rifle.

Because that's what happens. :rolleyes:

BWillie
06-15-2016, 11:27 AM
91

No way in hell I would have gone.

listopencil
06-15-2016, 12:44 PM
What does this mean?



What does this mean?



I understand this part completely.

I'm at work on a cell. I'll explain when I get to a real keyboard.

Amnorix
06-15-2016, 01:03 PM
What does this mean?


What does this mean?



I understand this part completely.


DEP is delayed entry program, and USNR is U.S. Naval Reserves. No clue on EOPD.

ExtremeChief
06-15-2016, 01:19 PM
132. Not in college so looks like I would have went.

In real life I planned on going in the Air Force but had a child in high school so figured that probably wasn't my best move.

listopencil
06-15-2016, 03:09 PM
What does this mean?



What does this mean?



I understand this part completely.

I joined the US Naval Reserve while in High School under the Delayed Entry Program. I went to Boot Camp for Summer vacation in between 11th and 12th grade. I went into active duty (training first) immediately after High School. My contract required that I serve a specific amount of active duty. I completed that requirement (actually got held over for a bit) before I turned 21 and was Honorably Discharged into reserve status because I had reached my End of Obligated Active Duty. A few years later I was also released from my reserve obligation. So, to answer the question posed in your OP, technically I was already discharged while 20 years old.

listopencil
06-15-2016, 03:09 PM
DEP is delayed entry program, and USNR is U.S. Naval Reserves. No clue on EOPD.

EOAD. End of Obligated Active Duty.

listopencil
06-15-2016, 03:14 PM
Had fun, left. Did not appreciate the lack of females.



I understand this part completely.

I did not fully appreciate at that early age how shitty life is without women around.

ROYC75
06-15-2016, 03:22 PM
204, I was always an unlucky basturd back then so they would have taken my ass since, I was first born son with a brother 2 yrs behind me and some other asshole somewhere failing his examination.

I damn near enlisted in 1975 anyways. Back in the early 70's I always feared and thought I would end up there.

Frosty
06-15-2016, 03:53 PM
I joined the US Naval Reserve while in High School under the Delayed Entry Program. I went to Boot Camp for Summer vacation in between 11th and 12th grade. I went into active duty (training first) immediately after High School. My contract required that I serve a specific amount of active duty. I completed that requirement (actually got held over for a bit) before I turned 21 and was Honorably Discharged into reserve status because I had reached my End of Obligated Active Duty. A few years later I was also released from my reserve obligation. So, to answer the question posed in your OP, technically I was already discharged while 20 years old.

That's how I did the National Guard. Basic training between my junior and senior year (when I was 17) and then AIT after I graduated. I didn't have to do any active duty time outside of training, though. Six years of one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer.

ghak99
06-15-2016, 03:56 PM
It looks like I would have been left at home.

I was probably flunking a Chem class under a foreign speaking professor at that age though. They probably could have easily convinced me that going to war was better than sitting through his lectures.

DeepPurple
06-15-2016, 04:16 PM
I don't post much on here anymore, but I haven't thought about the Army and the draft and college in a long time. So I'll gather my thoughts for my own benefit and if you find it interesting, then great.

I was born in 1950 and graduated from St. Petersburg High, Florida in 1968. My birthday was July 10, so my lottery number was 284, that number was in the range of not being called.

I didn't have a problem with the military, my dad joined the Navy at the end of WWII and my half brother was in paratroopers in the early 60's but he had gotten out. I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I enrolled at St. Pete JC and took Hotel/Restaurant Mgmt and had the 2S deferrment in addition to the high draft number. I figured in Florida there would be an endless supply of jobs in that field. One sidenote, when I was looking at the SPJC handbook, under famous alumni was a picture of Jim Morrison leading against a wall. He spent a short time there and at Florida State.

After one year of school and working in restaurants and a Holiday Inn, I realized I didn't like going home at the end of the day smelling like food. My second year I started and Disney World was anticipating opening soon and had recuiters interviewing us. I had an interested in aviation for a few years before, so I started taking private pilot lessons. They weren't expensive then, $21 an hour including the instructor. So I had to decide then, take a job with Disney or keep up the flying lessons. I dropped out of JC and continued the lessons.

I was a little frustrated that it was taking so long to get my license and I had heard about the WOFT program (Warrant Office Flight Training) to fly helicopters in the Army. In fact, the Army was the only branch that didn't require a pilot to have a college degree. I went to the Army recruiter and he said there was a years' wait WOFT, so I signed up for that.

A month later my flight instructor took me up in a control tower to see what it was like. I immediately liked the job, the close interaction they were working under and speaking fast and precise, I was also thought about being a disc jockey when I was younger, so this seemed even cooler.

I went back to my Army recruiter and said, can you get me into Air Traffic Controller school. He said, I can guarantee you the school and get you a starting date and it's ony a 3 years enlistment. I went to the Navy, Air Force and Marines just to make sure I was getting the best deal. They all wanted a 4 year enlistment and wouldn't guarantee the school, but rather I pick 3 schools and sometime during basic they would inform me of their decision.

Back to the Army I went and enlisted. My recruiter was very sharp. He sent me to McDill AFB in Tampa for a class 2 flight physical. This was very important I later found out, many other soldiers didn't get their flight physical until after basic training and were at ATC school. Some fluke out and then you can't go to the school and you have to choose between another school, falling back to a 2 year obligation and have the Army choose your school or taking an eroneous enlistment discharge, and if you had served less than 180 days your name went back into the draft.

I enlisted in Jacksonville, Florida. Went to basic at Ft. Polk, LA and school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. I was honor graduate of my class of 24 soldiers, that got me a promotion to E-4. I had incentive, if you fail ATC school, they sent you to door gunner school on Hueys.

I had orders for Vietnam on Oct 5, 1970 and went to 3 day Orientation class only to be told the day I was to leave that my orders were cancelled. As it turned out they didn't send anyone anywhere for a month. The school had to close because we were still in the bunks. After a month we had 120 graduates of ATC school and they came out and said, everyone is going to Korea. We were the first class in two years that didn't go to Vietnam.

On my way to Korea I stopped in Baltimore for a week. Went to Loyola College and saw the Guess Who, which had the #1 song 'No Time' and before that American Woman and These Eyes. Went to a Baltimore Colts game and saw a 10-10 tie with Buffalo. Flew to Seattle and spent 3 days in a reception station. Seeing Mt. Ranier for the first time was really impressive for a person who grew up in florida.

We boarded a Continental Airline Charter and took off from McCord AFB at midnight and landed in Hawaii at 5am, then got to sit in the cockpit for an hour and watch the Island of Guam appear, then we landed in Guam and then Tokyo and finally Seoul, Korea. I spent 13 months on the DMZ of Korea working Helicopters at a small airfield 4 miles from the fence. I was promoted to E-5 after 14 months and was made site chief. I actually got hostile fire pay while there and many years later I've got a 40% disability from the VA for Agent Orange. They sprayed AO in the DMZ from 1969 to 1971. I ETS from the Army 3 years later and a year after that went to work for the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller.

My draft number was 284, my company in Korea was The 284th Air Traffic Control Company and when I returned from Korea I was assigned to Hunter AAF in Savannah, Georgia. I got an apartment off base and my apartment was number 284.

sd4chiefs
06-15-2016, 04:20 PM
I was a freshman in college in 1972. I drew 280. Lucky me. My roommate got 50. He ended up dropping out and joining the national guard.

listopencil
06-15-2016, 04:21 PM
That's how I did the National Guard. Basic training between my junior and senior year (when I was 17) and then AIT after I graduated. I didn't have to do any active duty time outside of training, though. Six years of one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer.

Yeah, very similar, but my contract had an active duty requirement.

tiptap
06-15-2016, 05:40 PM
So the most interesting thing about that first lottery draft is how it has become a classic study in statistics.

HonestChieffan
06-15-2016, 05:43 PM
I was 1A. I was given permission to leave the country by the draft board to go to Denmark as an exchange student. Had to call the embassy every week and report in. The lottery for my age group was in July as I recall and my contact said to listen to it on AFR. They drew Nov 27 as number 178. The next week when I called in he said not to call back unless I was in trouble or a family emergency, that my draft board would not get that high. That was 71. Nixon got us out in 72.

Wierd time. Both brothers were low numbers and called up but turned away because they were Veternarians and they didn't need more vets/Captains.

KChiefs1
06-15-2016, 05:47 PM
123

I have flat feet.


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KChiefs1
06-15-2016, 05:51 PM
123

I have flat feet & college bound.


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Dayze
06-15-2016, 06:08 PM
227. So if I'm reading things right, I wouldn't have been drafted?
Despite running a 4.23/40

Hog's Gone Fishin
06-15-2016, 06:14 PM
I would have been disqualified as I had been diagnosed with massive penisitis/CP

'Hamas' Jenkins
06-15-2016, 06:48 PM
I would have been drafted (142), but would have been in college.

Spott
06-15-2016, 06:59 PM
I was #290 and enrolled in college so I wouldn't have had to go. It's easy to say as an adult that I would have gone if they chose me, but I was a rebellious little smart ass at that age that knew everything and weighed about 140lbs soaking wet, so I could have seen myself doing something to try and get out of it if I was around back then.

Rain Man
06-15-2016, 07:06 PM
(Cool story)

So did you do ATC for helicopters in Korea, or did you switch from helicopters to ATC and then got reassigned to helicopters?

You may have run across my father in law in Alabama. He was a helicopter pilot in Fort Rucker in the late 60s, but I don't know when he left.

PHOG
06-15-2016, 07:21 PM
186 I guess I would have been Infantry

oldman
06-16-2016, 05:44 AM
I can still remember sitting in the common room of the dorm watching the lottery. There was 1 guy that drew #1. It was like an arrow went through his heart. About the time they hit 250, there were only 4 of us left. The rest had gone to the local watering hole to drown their sorrows.
BTW, the deal about the only son was that you could be drafted, but not sent to a combat zone. Everyone I knew that fell into that bucket did their time in Germany.

ChiTown
06-16-2016, 07:20 AM
My Number would have been 135. I could have declared 1-S at age 20, as I was in College. However, it would have been expected in my Family to serve, which I would have done.

ct
06-16-2016, 10:56 AM
253, 1S

What is implied with the * by the birthdates?

Rain Man
06-16-2016, 11:11 AM
253, 1S

What is implied with the * by the birthdates?

It seems like the * just shows up sometimes when you cut and paste. I've never figured it out, unless it has something to do with the Broncos' Super Bowl trophies and salary cap cheating.

Donger
06-16-2016, 11:23 AM
There was 1 guy that drew #1.

What happened to him?

ct
06-16-2016, 11:36 AM
It seems like they * just shows up sometimes when you cut and paste. I've never figured it out, unless it has something to do with the Broncos' Super Bowl trophies and salary cap cheating.

ah yes, the "vasoline guy" status, roger that, i'm staying clear of that guy

nttiawwt

Rain Man
06-16-2016, 11:43 AM
I can still remember sitting in the common room of the dorm watching the lottery. There was 1 guy that drew #1. It was like an arrow went through his heart. About the time they hit 250, there were only 4 of us left. The rest had gone to the local watering hole to drown their sorrows.
BTW, the deal about the only son was that you could be drafted, but not sent to a combat zone. Everyone I knew that fell into that bucket did their time in Germany.

I wonder if anyone ended up getting killed in combat because his mother and father had an "accident" 18 years later right as he hit draft age. And even if he didn't get killed, would he give the much younger sibling noogies later in life because the new kid got him sent to a war zone?

BWillie
06-16-2016, 12:35 PM
Nobody should ever be forced to go to another country to shoot another man in the face. It should only be a choice to serve, or not.

Dayze
06-16-2016, 12:39 PM
If I went back in time to that era and was drafted, but still possessed my current brain and experiences, I wouldve told the government to get fucked.

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oldman
06-16-2016, 01:06 PM
What happened to him?

I don't know. He was from Ohio, so I guess he went back there and got drunk. He was flunking out anyway.

Fairplay
06-16-2016, 01:12 PM
What terrible times to be a man of age stressing over the draft from year to year praying that you won't have to go to that awful excuse for a war Vietnam.

A war I think that went on year after year for the military hardware stockholders and the politicians that backed them as well.
I could understand men signing up for WW11 but not this war no way.

Randallflagg
06-16-2016, 01:14 PM
I joined and fought in Viet Nam. I chose 11B and was damned glad I did.

Randallflagg
06-16-2016, 01:43 PM
What terrible times to be a man of age stressing over the draft from year to year praying that you won't have to go to that awful excuse for a war Vietnam.

A war I think that went on year after year for the military hardware stockholders and the politicians that backed them as well.
I could understand men signing up for WW11 but not this war no way.

I suppose that I can understand how you feel, but you are missing the point. EVERY war that has EVER been fought, companies and people profited from them. Politicians' kids RARELY ever fight in them and it's 90% of the middle-lower class folks that fight them. It is just the way that it is. My Father was an Air Force Officer who flew combat missions there (at least till he retired). MY Brother joined the Marines, did two tours and eventually retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. Service in the Military goes way back in my family.

It was just a thing that was just expected of me, a young guy, fresh out of High School. On the plus side, Uncle Sam paid for my College Education, guaranteed a home Mortgage, and helped me start a career. My Son served in the Navy as a WEAPS on a missile cruiser and my Daughter served as a JAG officer. See, runs in the family.

Rain Man
06-16-2016, 01:44 PM
If I went back in time to that era and was drafted, but still possessed my current brain and experiences, I wouldve told the government to get ****ed.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk


Eh, I would have obediently gone back when I was 18 or 20. It would've sounded like a grand adventure to me as a small-town kid who'd never been anywhere. Plus, I tended to obey authority pretty strictly.

Rain Man
06-16-2016, 01:47 PM
I joined and fought in Viet Nam. I chose 11B and was damned glad I did.

What is 11B?

Oh, wait. I have internet access.

The infantry is the main land combat force and backbone of the Army. They are responsible for defending our country against any threat by land, as well as capturing, destroying and repelling enemy ground forces.
Infantryman (11B) | goarmy.com

You chose infantry? I would've guessed that most people would push for a different position. Why did you want infantry? (And I'm glad you did - just curious.)

Lzen
06-16-2016, 03:27 PM
Nope

ModSocks
06-16-2016, 03:42 PM
Welp, at 18 and graduating HS, i had already sat in the recruiters chair several times to join the Air Force. This was right as the war in Iraq was kicking off. My friend and I were going to join together, but then we both decided to go to college so we could join as officers, but then ended up going to college and not joining at all.

I wish we had joined.

At 18 with no woman or child, i'd probably have gone to fight. If i were say....25+ with woman and child....probably not.

Chief Roundup
06-16-2016, 05:10 PM
I would not have been drafted. 287

temper11
06-16-2016, 05:57 PM
89th. I went to college in 93'. Don't know if I'd have been in college back then. Completely different world back then. Interesting question of what would I have done. My dad was military and I grew up in the military and I think I might have felt guilty about being called and then getting out of it by taking a college deferment - like I was somehow better than those not in college - privileged. I don't think I'd have been ok with that.

As I sit here comfortably, knowing full well this is a hypothetical question, I think I probably would have gone anyway, even had I been in college, regardless of the stupidity of the war. I tried to enlist after 9/11 but was rejected for being over weight (I remember thinking, "isn't that what boot camp is for") and I think almost too old (28).

Good post, I'd always wondered about the idea of being drafted, but seeing that I would have definitely received the letter... interesting to think about.

Randallflagg
06-16-2016, 07:33 PM
What is 11B?

Oh, wait. I have internet access.

The infantry is the main land combat force and backbone of the Army. They are responsible for defending our country against any threat by land, as well as capturing, destroying and repelling enemy ground forces.
Infantryman (11B) | goarmy.com

You chose infantry? I would've guessed that most people would push for a different position. Why did you want infantry? (And I'm glad you did - just curious.)

Indeed I did. A soldier's job is to fight. I could have selected any job I wanted (ASVAB scores were real high) but I wanted to go combat Arms - Infantry, Armor, Artillery. Honestly, I thought the best choice for me was Infantry. I had always loved hunting, fishing, camping all that crap. So Infantry seemed like the best thing for me. Saw a lot of nasty shit over there. But that's the nature of the deal.

After I got wounded, I re-enlisted went to the University of Louisville, went to Warrant Officer School and spent the next 20 years as an Investigator. All in all, it wasn't bad.

Marcellus
06-16-2016, 07:48 PM
27
1A

Kill Some Commies

Marcellus
06-16-2016, 07:53 PM
I don't post much on here anymore, but I haven't thought about the Army and the draft and college in a long time. So I'll gather my thoughts for my own benefit and if you find it interesting, then great.

I was born in 1950 and graduated from St. Petersburg High, Florida in 1968. My birthday was July 10, so my lottery number was 284, that number was in the range of not being called.

I didn't have a problem with the military, my dad joined the Navy at the end of WWII and my half brother was in paratroopers in the early 60's but he had gotten out. I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I enrolled at St. Pete JC and took Hotel/Restaurant Mgmt and had the 2S deferrment in addition to the high draft number. I figured in Florida there would be an endless supply of jobs in that field. One sidenote, when I was looking at the SPJC handbook, under famous alumni was a picture of Jim Morrison leading against a wall. He spent a short time there and at Florida State.

After one year of school and working in restaurants and a Holiday Inn, I realized I didn't like going home at the end of the day smelling like food. My second year I started and Disney World was anticipating opening soon and had recuiters interviewing us. I had an interested in aviation for a few years before, so I started taking private pilot lessons. They weren't expensive then, $21 an hour including the instructor. So I had to decide then, take a job with Disney or keep up the flying lessons. I dropped out of JC and continued the lessons.

I was a little frustrated that it was taking so long to get my license and I had heard about the WOFT program (Warrant Office Flight Training) to fly helicopters in the Army. In fact, the Army was the only branch that didn't require a pilot to have a college degree. I went to the Army recruiter and he said there was a years' wait WOFT, so I signed up for that.

A month later my flight instructor took me up in a control tower to see what it was like. I immediately liked the job, the close interaction they were working under and speaking fast and precise, I was also thought about being a disc jockey when I was younger, so this seemed even cooler.

I went back to my Army recruiter and said, can you get me into Air Traffic Controller school. He said, I can guarantee you the school and get you a starting date and it's ony a 3 years enlistment. I went to the Navy, Air Force and Marines just to make sure I was getting the best deal. They all wanted a 4 year enlistment and wouldn't guarantee the school, but rather I pick 3 schools and sometime during basic they would inform me of their decision.

Back to the Army I went and enlisted. My recruiter was very sharp. He sent me to McDill AFB in Tampa for a class 2 flight physical. This was very important I later found out, many other soldiers didn't get their flight physical until after basic training and were at ATC school. Some fluke out and then you can't go to the school and you have to choose between another school, falling back to a 2 year obligation and have the Army choose your school or taking an eroneous enlistment discharge, and if you had served less than 180 days your name went back into the draft.

I enlisted in Jacksonville, Florida. Went to basic at Ft. Polk, LA and school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. I was honor graduate of my class of 24 soldiers, that got me a promotion to E-4. I had incentive, if you fail ATC school, they sent you to door gunner school on Hueys.

I had orders for Vietnam on Oct 5, 1970 and went to 3 day Orientation class only to be told the day I was to leave that my orders were cancelled. As it turned out they didn't send anyone anywhere for a month. The school had to close because we were still in the bunks. After a month we had 120 graduates of ATC school and they came out and said, everyone is going to Korea. We were the first class in two years that didn't go to Vietnam.

On my way to Korea I stopped in Baltimore for a week. Went to Loyola College and saw the Guess Who, which had the #1 song 'No Time' and before that American Woman and These Eyes. Went to a Baltimore Colts game and saw a 10-10 tie with Buffalo. Flew to Seattle and spent 3 days in a reception station. Seeing Mt. Ranier for the first time was really impressive for a person who grew up in florida.

We boarded a Continental Airline Charter and took off from McCord AFB at midnight and landed in Hawaii at 5am, then got to sit in the cockpit for an hour and watch the Island of Guam appear, then we landed in Guam and then Tokyo and finally Seoul, Korea. I spent 13 months on the DMZ of Korea working Helicopters at a small airfield 4 miles from the fence. I was promoted to E-5 after 14 months and was made site chief. I actually got hostile fire pay while there and many years later I've got a 40% disability from the VA for Agent Orange. They sprayed AO in the DMZ from 1969 to 1971. I ETS from the Army 3 years later and a year after that went to work for the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller.

My draft number was 284, my company in Korea was The 284th Air Traffic Control Company and when I returned from Korea I was assigned to Hunter AAF in Savannah, Georgia. I got an apartment off base and my apartment was number 284.

Great story!

My dad was crew chief on Cobras in Vietnam.

I was an infantryman at Ft Stewart GA and have been to Hunter AA.

DeepPurple
06-17-2016, 06:59 AM
Great story!

My dad was crew chief on Cobras in Vietnam.

I was an infantryman at Ft Stewart GA and have been to Hunter AA.

I owned and operated a record store, "Rock N Easy Records" in the K-Mart shopping center in Hinesville, Georgia from 1982 until 1988. It was right next to the Piggly Wiggly. I guess you were there later, or do you remember my store?

DeepPurple
06-17-2016, 07:09 AM
So did you do ATC for helicopters in Korea, or did you switch from helicopters to ATC and then got reassigned to helicopters?

You may have run across my father in law in Alabama. He was a helicopter pilot in Fort Rucker in the late 60s, but I don't know when he left.

I was at Ft. Rucker from July to October 1970, I didn't know any officers, I was a lowly student. I once got a 10 minute ride in a Cobra and kind of made me think I should of waited for Helicopter school.

In the Army if you're a controller you'll most likely work helicopters. My MOS was 93H and in Korea I worked at Stanton Army Airfield (A-112). We were in the DMZ about 4 miles south of the border. At the time the US was responsible for 18 miles of the 38th Parallel. We had 40 hueys, 10 OH-58 (Bell Jet Ranger) and 5 ROK Birdogs. (ROK = Republic of Korea) (Birdog is like a Cessna -150).

Our guys would patrol under down the border everyday looking for infiltrators. They had to fly as low to the ground as possible to avoid N. Korean radar. They usually flew right above the river that separated the two countries, it was like riding in a very fast boat. I got quite a bit of stick time in the OH-58's because the pilots flew solo and they would get bored, so they would stop by the tower and ask if I wanted to fly. I got to know the pilots from Florida the best and flew 3 or 4 times a week. One interesting note, the first time I went up in a Huey, the crew chief opened the back doors and everybody, including the pilots, got stoned. Imagine the movie Mash, that is what my unit and airfield was very much like

Fairplay
06-17-2016, 07:30 AM
Thanks for sharing those fascinating stories DeepPurple and thank you for your service to this country. You certainly had some great life experiences and thanks for sharing them.

Marcellus
06-17-2016, 08:00 AM
I owned and operated a record store, "Rock N Easy Records" in the K-Mart shopping center in Hinesville, Georgia from 1982 until 1988. It was right next to the Piggly Wiggly. I guess you were there later, or do you remember my store?

I got there in the fall of 89'.

beach tribe
06-17-2016, 08:55 AM
So if you were in college you didn't have to go?

In other words, if you were rich you didn't have to go......Disgusting
I understand that there are other people in college too, but almost all rich people go to college.

I hope all the War Pigs get what they deserve.

Spott
06-17-2016, 09:29 AM
So if you were in college you didn't have to go?

In other words, if you were rich you didn't have to go......Disgusting
I understand that there are other people in college too, but almost all rich people go to college.

I hope all the War Pigs get what they deserve.

I wasn't rich and I went to college. I delivered pizzas and worked at Applebee's to pay for school and my apartment. Me getting into UMKC was based more on my grades and ACT scores than how much my Mom made at her job.

fan4ever
06-17-2016, 09:45 AM
Really an interesting thread; kudos...I would have been drafted for sure at 41...no way to treat a guy born on Veteran's Day.

ChiTown
06-17-2016, 09:56 AM
I wasn't rich and I went to college. I delivered pizzas and worked at Applebee's to pay for school and my apartment. Me getting into UMKC was based more on my grades and ACT scores than how much my Mom made at her job.

Back in that time period, most of the kids going to College were from wealthier families, unless you were an exceptional student. That started to change in the the mid to late 70's - post Vietnam War.

Rain Man
06-17-2016, 09:58 AM
So if you were in college you didn't have to go?

In other words, if you were rich you didn't have to go......Disgusting
I understand that there are other people in college too, but almost all rich people go to college.

I hope all the War Pigs get what they deserve.


I do wonder what the reasoning for that was. I don't particularly see a justification for it.

In five minutes of looking, I don't see evidence of college deferments before Vietnam. Anyone know if that was introduced in the Vietnam draft or if it happened in earlier wars?

eDave
06-17-2016, 10:07 AM
I always thought that war was where we sent the dregs of society to die.

ChiTown
06-17-2016, 10:07 AM
I do wonder what the reasoning for that was. I don't particularly see a justification for it.

In five minutes of looking, I don't see evidence of college deferments before Vietnam. Anyone know if that was introduced in the Vietnam draft or if it happened in earlier wars?

I believe it was introduced during the Korean War.

ChiTown
06-17-2016, 10:10 AM
I believe it was introduced during the Korean War.

Some light reading....

http://davidcard.berkeley.edu/papers/vietnam-war-college.pdf

DeepPurple
06-18-2016, 09:52 AM
Back in that time period, most of the kids going to College were from wealthier families, unless you were an exceptional student. That started to change in the the mid to late 70's - post Vietnam War.

I went to St. Petersburg Jr. College 1969 to 1970 for three semesters. It was $100 a semster plus books. We had 25,000 students at that time. I believe they added a Clearwater campus and now have probably double that many students. They have programs that can lead straight into a job, like in the medical field, or even commercial pilot.

If you wanted more than a Associate degree, the University of South Florida in Tampa or University of Central Florida in Orlando are cheaper for residents. My neighbor's daughter just graduated from USF in Tampa with a degree in accounting. She's making a $1000 a week right now in Tampa, and has taken tests to be a CPA, they have to go through several tests. When she is finished her salary will go even higher and she's only 22.

oldman
06-18-2016, 10:25 AM
Back in that time period, most of the kids going to College were from wealthier families, unless you were an exceptional student. That started to change in the the mid to late 70's - post Vietnam War.

That's just not true. I worked part time and full time in the summers. I took out college loans. My folks helped, but they were not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination. Most of my HS friends went to college and, with a few exceptions, they were all middle class kids as well. Trust me, most kids from the Dotte weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
In answer to another question, yes, if you were enrolled in college, you got a 2-S deferment. If you quit or flunked out, you were reclassified 1-A within 30 days. I saw a few of those. When the lottery started in 1969, you had 10 days to resign your 2-S and go with the number you were dealt, knowing you only had to worry about that year. With my 287 and a flunked ROTC physical behind me, I did that. If you didn't you kept your number and when you ended your college, you went to 1-A and were subject to the draft in that year. I guess I was lucky that I was in the first lottery because there were so many of us that they only got to something like 180 that year.

Mosbonian
06-18-2016, 12:41 PM
I was lucky......my year and the year before my number would have been 353 and 307 respectively.

I actually still have my draft card...encased in plastic to keep it from disintegrating.