Draft number.

[REM 3200]

Never had a number.

Volunteered in Feb. 62, served for 22 years and retired in Apr. 84.

Didn't go to Canada

Didn't dodge

Just did my duty. I was one of the 3%

Same here - US Army 1963 to 1990

 

[Ranger514]

I registered in 1969. My number was 37 in the first Lottery, but I was in college and got a 2S deferment.

 

[Speedo2]

I was in the 1970 lottery; got number 294. I went out, drank a few beers, may have had a few tokes, and continued in my nefarious ways. Thanks to all that served, either voluntarily or drafted; you have my respect. -S2

 

[Long Barrel]

When I drew 243 for a draft lottery number, I was in the third year of the ROTC program. I did 70-71 with 1 Field Force, and retired from the. USAR in 96.

 

[Mule Packer]

I was number six and proud of it! Had never won a lottery before, so this was a new thing for me.

Anyway, when I went home from college for the summer, I was going to enlist. Thinking either the Air Force or the Navy. Couldn't make up my mind, so I decided to go to school for one more semester.

As luck would have it, I met my future bride that semester. I wanted to get my military obligation out of the way before I got married, but then...the draft ended, so I wound up raising a family instead of enlisting.

 

[richardman1992]

First off, I just wanna thank all you hard dicked gentlemen who served in Vietnam and during that era.

I was born almost 20 years after the draft ended, but I remember in the summer or fall of 2011 (like it was all that long ago haha), getting a notice to register for the selective service or whatever they call it these days. I was about to go on my first deployment (no Afghanistan unfortunately, just a MEU). I just laughed and tore that paper up. Been out almost a year now and my only regret is being an infantryman and not having the opportunity to go to Afghanistan. I was in infantry school in the fall/winter of 2010 when 3rd Bn 5th Marines were in Sangin Afghanistan and we'd hear about the casualties almost daily.

 

[finesse_r]

I graduated high school in May, 1974. I was eighteen years old, patriotic, poor, and not very bright. I volunteered and joined the Army on February 14, 1975 (yeah, I told you I wasn't very bright) so I could serve our great country, and have a future for myself. I was one of the last of the original GI Bill guys and had to leave the service in 1980 or lose all of my GI Bill benefits. I earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree with the assistance of the GI Bill, and I tried to reenter the service after 9/11 and wasn't allowed to because of my service connected disabilities (I'm still P.O.'d about that!).

Thank you Rustyt1953 for starting this thread, and thank you to all who have served our great nation.

Regards,

Dave

Service is something that is voluntary. When it is forced it is called servitude or slavery. Always thought is was a bit facetious to draft a man, send him against his will into harms way and then thank him for his service.

 

[carpriver]

I didn't get a number. I signed up for the selective service and revived my draft card when I turned 18 in 1966, I graduated in June 66. I was in Air Force basic training in August when my mother forwarded my draft notice to me. I arrived in Viet Nam in December 1967. Returned to the world in December 13, 1968 I retired from the Air Force in 1986. I would not change anything.

 

[Rangerpat]

In 1970 my draft number was 236, I found out while attending Advanced Infantry Training at Camp Geiger (Lejeune) in North Carolina.
I had enlisted in February of 1970 at 18 years of age, no regrets.

 

[Colokeb]

Beat this number that I got: 366

June 8th!

 

[gaf]

No number 1973 when there was no draft. Graduated H/S in 1972 at 17 and was employed in Cincinnati as a Police Cadet and was attending UC.
Was a very low number the last year of the draft when the rest of my class of 72 were eligible.

 

[amazingflapjack]

In 1969 when the lottery began, and the rule was to take 19 yr olds' first, I was already in the Delta, and 23 yrs old!

 

[EQGuy]

They started the lottery after I was already in the Army. I actually got two letters that started with Greeting. After the first one I applied for and got a 1S deferment that ran out the following June. I saw the writing on the wall and enlisted on the 120 day delayed entry program. I was placed in the inactive reserves and when I showed up on the appointed date to go active I was handed an honorable discharge from the inactive reserves. On the second day of basic training I was promoted to Private E-2 because I had 4 months service as an E-1. I had signed up to go to OCS but the Army changed its prerequisites for attending OCS and required all applicants to have a 4 year college degree or one year active duty in the military. I did not enjoy my time in the Army but I do look back on it with some fondness. I did get my second draft notice in June as expected and I informed the draft board that I was already in the Army.

 

[anoblefox]

In 1971; 30

 

[crsides]

I was drafted just out of college in July 1969. Went for physical, testing, quit my job, kissed my girlfriend and then got a letter deferring my date 90 days. Seems they drafted more than they needed, so I went in Nov 1969. All of our class 0f 59 guys went to Nam or Korea except for 4 of us.
3 to Germany and I had to go to Italy for the balance of my time. Brought the then wife over and we had a ball, living on $238 a month.

I would have gone to Nam if called, but I sure as hell was glad it was Italy instead. Thank you all for your service.


Charlie

 

[Bat Guano]

Never had a number that I knew of; student deferment in college, got my "greetings" about one nanosecond after finishing school in '65. Outfoxed everybody and wanting some say in the matter, enlisted in the AF. Early out just in time for Christmas, 1968.

Actually I had already decided to go into the AF 4 years earlier after high school, as I was at loose ends. I thought the service would be a good idea. Before I got a chance to tell my folks "the good news"--the kid was moving out!--they offered to send me (a perennial rotten student) to state college. I'd like to say that I exceeded their highest expectations, but being a moron I barely graduated, none the smarter.

In retrospect I'd have done better had I gone in in 1960, done my time, grown up some, and then gone to college. Then I would have had some idea of what the hell I was doing, had my head screwed on better, and watched all the rest of you guys get drafted.

But, what the heck--got to go to interesting places, see and do interesting things, get a "Dear John" letter (no Skype in those days!), learned how to gripe and moan, and all that stuff.

Heck, they even paid me as well.

 

[Frank46]

Class of '64 here. never gave it much thought as to what my draft number was. Graduated high school and figured I'd enlist in the navy. Went down to see the recruiter and since I had no idea what was available had a bunch of stuff to look over. Dad had to sign the enlistment papers as I was 17. They set up a date shortly thereafter for my physical at the induction center at Whitehall street put our butts on a plane headed to great lakes naval training center. After that I was assigned to the USS Franklin D Roosevelt CVA 42. Only guy in the engineroom with frostbite on my ears. Chief sends me to sickbay and the doc asks what my last duty station was. Great lakes, he says son you have frostbite how cold did it get? 15 below just off the water. Gave me some salve back to the hole.Since I enlisted while 17 I had what was called a minority enlistment. In essence a "kitty Cruiser" I had to be back in Conus before my 21st birthday and separated from active duty prior to me having my 21st B'day. Spent about 3 years going OCS over the choppy seas. Turned 21 11 october 1967. Never regretted doing it or serving. day I got home I went to the local delicatessen and the owner asked if I was home for good. yes, then he handed me one of those big quart bottles of german beer and said thanks. At home I told mom that george (deli owner) had given me the beer. Funny thing though, as I sat in the kitchen drinking it I realized I hand't turned 21 yet. tasted great. Three years later in 1970 I got my honorable discharge and my ruptured duck. Frank

 

[JohnHL]

My lottery number was 54.
I was called in for my physical and classified 1A.
I was 19 and pretty sure I would be getting my notice.
Then Mr. Nixon ended the draft.

John

 

[Engineer1911]

I graduated from high school 1966, attended college, and worked as sheet metal apprentice. My number was 128 in the 1969 Draft Lottery. In mid-May 1970, I was given a choice: join the air force TODAY or on June 1, 1970 I will be in the army.

As an aircraft mechanic I had a date of rank for E-5 at 1 year 11 months, and got out with 4 years, 3 months of service. I spent the first 3+ years in Texas and New York, the last 10 months in Thailand.

I talked to a young E-4 last week and found out that E-5 takes 5 years today. He was driving a Dodge Ram 4-door hemi pickup. Pay scale must be a lot higher today.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I was in the first group that was exempted even from registration. About the only male not to serve in military family, at the advice and constant admonition of those who did. In retrospect, I missed something, but we can't do everything, and relatives are influential when we are young.