What happened on your birthday?

What’s Your Vietnam War Draft Lottery Number?

The Vietnam War draft lottery ran from 1969 to 1972. If you were born on April 16, would your number have been called?

  • Vietnam War 1969 Lottery
    CalledDrafted
    148
  • Vietnam War 1970 Lottery
    CalledDrafted
    31
  • Vietnam War 1971 Lottery
    CalledDrafted
    23
  • Vietnam War 1972 Lottery
    Not CalledNot drafted
    119

Read on to learn more about the Vietnam war draft lottery.





more events on April 16

  • 1972

    Two giants pandas arrive in the U.S. from China.

  • 1968

    The Pentagon announces the “Vietnamization” of the war.

  • 1947

    Lew Alcinder (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), professional basketball player.

  • A lens which provides zoom effects is demonstrated in New York City.

  • 1945

    American troops enter Nuremberg, Germany.

  • The destroyer USS Laffey survives horrific damage from attacks by 22 Japanese aircraft off Okinawa, earning the nickname “The Ship That Would Not Die.”

  • 1942

    The Island of Malta is awarded the George Cross in recognition for heroism under constant German air attack. It was the first such award given to any part of the British Commonwealth.

  • 1924

    Henry Mancini, composer and conductor (“Moon River”).

  • 1922

    Kingsley Amis, British author (Lucky Jim).

  • Annie Oakley shoots 100 clay targets in a row, setting a woman’s record.

  • 1919

    Merce Cunningham, American dancer and choreographer.

  • 1917

    Vladimir Lenin returns to Russia to start the Bolshevik Revolution.

  • 1889

    Charlie Chaplin, film actor and director.

  • 1871

    John Millington Synge, dramatist and poet (Playboy of the Western World).

  • 1867

    Wilbur Wright, designer, builder and flyer of the first airplane.

  • 1864

    Flora Batson, African-American soprano-baritone singer.

  • 1862

    Slavery is abolished in the District of Columbia.

  • Confederate President Jefferson Davis approves a conscription act for white males between 18 and 35.

  • 1854

    San Salvador is destroyed by an earthquake.

  • 1850

    Thomas Sidney Gilchrist, British metallurgist and inventor.

  • 1844

    Anatole France, French writer.

  • 1818

    The U.S. Senate ratifies the Rush-Bagot amendment to form an unarmed U.S.-Canada border.

  • 1800

    George Charles Bingham, British soldier, commanded the Light Brigade during the famous charge.

  • 1786

    Sir John Franklin, arctic explorer.

  • 1746

    Prince Charles is defeated at the Battle of Culloden, the last pitched battle fought in Britain.

  • 1728

    Joseph Black, Scottish chemist and physicist.

  • 1705

    Queen Anne of England knights Isaac Newton.

  • 1660

    Hans Sloane, physician, naturalist, founder of the British Museum.

  • 1065

    The Norman Robert Guiscard takes Bari, ending five centuries of Byzantine rule in southern Italy.

  • 556

    Pelagius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.

  • 69

    Defeated by Vitellius’ troops at Bedriacum, Otho commits suicide.