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What's Your Number?By Vietnam magazine | Vietnam Extra | Single Page | 5 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post  366 blue plastic capsules contained the birthdays that would be chosen in the first Vietnam draft lottery drawing on December 1, 1969. The first birth date drawn that night, assigned the lowest number, "001," was September 14. (Selective Service Archive) Subscribe Today
During the Vietnam War, young men gathered in college dorms and friends' homes to listen to live TV and radio broadcasts of the U.S. Selective Service System drawing lottery numbers to determine who would and would not be drafted. The 2010 issue of Vietnam magazine revisits those days in the article, "LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, IT'S LOTTERY NIGHT 1969!" How would YOU have done? *How did Prominent Figures do? *Some in this list, who were already serving and whose draft status had been resolved, were not affected by the draft lottery. Otherwise, every male aged 19 to 26 had a stake in the 1970 draft lottery, as it determined the order in which men with birth dates between 1944 and 1950 were called to report for induction in 1970. Some on the above list were already serving, received student or medical deferments, volunteered for other service, or for various other reasons were not drafted in 1970. Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: Historical Figures, People, Social History, Vietnam War
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5 Comments to “What's Your Number?”
Got drafted in 1970
By Tommie Stallings on Dec 2, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I was a volunteer. I enlisted in the US Navy while still in my senior year in high school. I graduated in 1969. I became a Navy SEAL and did a deployment to RVN in 1971. I am proud of my service and of having the honor of serving my country as a SEAL.
By John Chalus 359 on Dec 16, 2009 at 10:05 pm
I was a volunteer. I was number 11! I immediately went down and enlisted prior to graduating from high school. I enlisted in the Navy and served two tours in 'Nam and retired as a Chief Petty Officer in'91.
By Scott L Powell on Jan 1, 2010 at 6:12 pm
After high school I immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. I would
have enlisted regardless even if there was no war because my father
and my uncles were in WW2 and I personally felt that it was my duty
to serve. I was in from 1969 to 1973 received an Honorable Discharge
and one of the best benefits I received was that I was able to attend
college on the G.I. Bill. I am proud of my service and would do it again.
By Dennis M. Rog on Jan 9, 2010 at 1:10 am
As it was, I was a 20 year old just working and hanging out in 1968 so I got drafted in February.
If I would have made it through most of 69, my December birthday would have pretty much sealed my fate anyway.
I served 2 years as a draftee in the Army, served in the Nam, and received an Honerable Discharge.
I wouldn't have necessairly wished it on anyone else, but it was a life's experience that I can still pass on.
By Harry G. Reeder on Jan 26, 2010 at 9:26 pm