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 May 20, would your number have been called?

  • Vietnam War 1969 Lottery
    CalledDrafted
    183
  • Vietnam War 1970 Lottery
    Not CalledNot drafted
    242
  • Vietnam War 1971 Lottery
    Not CalledNot drafted
    119
  • Vietnam War 1972 Lottery
    Not CalledNot drafted
    274

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





more events on May 20

  • 1970

    100,000 people march in New York, supporting U.S. policies in Vietnam.

  • 1969

    In South Vietnam, troops of the 101st Airborne Division reach the top of Hill 937 after nine days of fighting entrenched North Vietnamese forces.

  • 1961

    A white mob attacks civil rights activists in Montgomery, Alabama.

  • 1951

    During the Korean War, U.S. Air Force Captain James Jabara becomes the first jet air ace in history.

  • 1942

    Japan completes the conquest of Burma.

  • 1941

  • 1939

    Pan American Airways starts the first regular passenger service across the Atlantic.

  • 1932

    Amelia Earhart lands near Londonderry, Ireland, to become the first woman fly solo across the Atlantic.

  • 1930

    The first airplane is catapulted from a dirigible.

  • 1927

    Charles Lindbergh takes off from New York for Paris.

  • 1908

    Jimmy Stewart, actor (It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr Smith Goes to Washington).

  • 1902

    The U.S. military occupation of Cuba ends.

  • 1882

    Sigrid Undset, Norwegian novelist (Kristin Lavransdatter).

  • 1874

    Levi Strauss begins marketing blue jeans with copper rivets.

  • 1862

    President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, providing 250 million acres of free land to settlers in the West.

  • 1861

    North Carolina becomes the last state to secede from the Union.

  • 1859

    A force of Austrians collide with Piedmontese cavalry at the village of Montebello, in northern Italy.

  • 1818

    William George Fargo, one of the founders of Wells, Fargo & Co.

  • 1806

    John Stuart Mill, British philosopher and economist.

  • 1799

    Honore de Balzac, French novelist (The Human Comedy, Lost Illusions).

  • Napoleon Bonaparte orders a withdrawal from his siege of St. Jean d’Acre in Egypt.

  • 1784

    The Peace of Versailles ends a war between France, England, and Holland.

  • 1775

    North Carolina becomes the first colony to declare its independence.

  • 1774

    Parliament passes the Coercive Acts to punish the colonists for their increasingly anti-British behavior. The acts close the port of Boston.

  • 1768

    Dolley Madison, first lady of President James Madison.

  • 1750

    Stephen Girard, American financier and philanthropist.

  • 1690

    England passes the Act of Grace, forgiving followers of James II.

  • 1674

    John Sobieski becomes Poland’s first king.

  • 1663

    William Bradford, printer.

  • 1520

    Hernando Cortes defeats Spanish troops sent against him in Mexico.

  • 1347

    Cola di Rienzo takes the title of tribune in Rome.

  • 1303

    A peace treaty is signed between England and France.

  • 325

    The Ecumenical council is inaugurated by Emperor Constantine in Nicea.