- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: The Vietnam Draft Lottery
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:25 am to Bamafig
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:25 am to Bamafig
I worked with a guy(RIP) that was drafted into Vietnam. They would actually ask you if you wanted the Army or the Marines. The guy I worked with said Army and he said some of the guys would say "Oh, it doesn't matter" and they immediately put them into the Marines,
0
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:30 am to Bamafig
That can't be.... all I see on here is how easy the Boomers had it.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:30 am to beerJeep
quote:
My arse would have been drafted early fml
I would have been one of the first too.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:38 am to CleverUserName
My dad and a few of his brothers had high draft numbers. Instead of getting drafted they enlisted instead. Reason given was by enlisting, they at least had a little control over which branch, etc.
My dad joined the Army and his unit spent about 6 months in Hawaii training before going to Vietnam. So he felt he was with a better trained unit. Said that a lot of those draftees just went through basic and were thrown into the war. Not the ideal situation to be around those guys in a war zone.
My dad joined the Army and his unit spent about 6 months in Hawaii training before going to Vietnam. So he felt he was with a better trained unit. Said that a lot of those draftees just went through basic and were thrown into the war. Not the ideal situation to be around those guys in a war zone.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:41 am to Bamafig
For context, the Tet offensive of early 1968 scared everybody, and the US dead passed 30,000 the next month. Network news reminded us every night that it was a very hot war. Prior to Dec 1969 local Draft boards went down the lists on an oldest 1st basis. College grads losing deferments were top of the list.
The letter did not say "Greetings from the President". It was singular "Greeting...". The flimsy envelope was familiar. The notice of pre-induction physical had come first, then the notification of a 1-A classification. You could buy time and get more letters through change-of-residence appeals. Approval was automatic, the Board knew they had you.
Two years in the Great Green Killing Machine passed quickly. Occasionally I want to ask colleages what they did to avoid the draft. I never did.
The letter did not say "Greetings from the President". It was singular "Greeting...". The flimsy envelope was familiar. The notice of pre-induction physical had come first, then the notification of a 1-A classification. You could buy time and get more letters through change-of-residence appeals. Approval was automatic, the Board knew they had you.
Two years in the Great Green Killing Machine passed quickly. Occasionally I want to ask colleages what they did to avoid the draft. I never did.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:45 am to Bamafig
Had a neighbor that got drafted and while he was over there his parents got killed during hurricane Camille. Just awful
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:46 am to Bamafig
My arse would have got drafted. Late, but drafted nonetheless.
ETA: My Pops was drafted in the last draft, but he got a deferment or whatever due to being the youngest son of his family, still living at home, and his mother being a widow.
ETA: My Pops was drafted in the last draft, but he got a deferment or whatever due to being the youngest son of his family, still living at home, and his mother being a widow.
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 9:55 am
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:01 am to lsutigersFTW
Did you just publicly declare yourself a draft dodger?
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:12 am to Bamafig
quote:
I was born on December 30
I share the same shitty birthday, but I'm a bit older. I was starting to get nervous when the war ended.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:54 am to SallysHuman
quote:His number was likely high enough to not have been activated.
I'm trying to figure out why he was special
Posted on 6/8/26 at 11:50 am to Bamafig
quote:
Every male citizen between the ages of 18 and 26 was entered into a lottery
A former professor told me he earned a PhD to avoid Vietnam. He just kept trying to get more degrees
Posted on 6/8/26 at 12:34 pm to danilo
They would have gotten me in 1972 draft. That is actually the year I was born. Weird.
Sad all those young men that got sent off and died for absolutely nothing. NOTHING.
Sad all those young men that got sent off and died for absolutely nothing. NOTHING.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 12:47 pm to danilo
The way I remember it was you kept a student deferment (2-S) for four years. If you didn’t make your grades (passed enough semester hours) the school would report you to your local draft board and they’d draft you. After 4 years you lost your 2S and changed to 1-A.
Also…. the divinity schools were full back then. Divinity students got a deferment.
Back then it was extremely difficult to find a slot in a national guard or reserve unit. If you were lucky enough to get in…you would go off for basic training and AIT and then return to your home unit to serve out your 6 year enlistment. No Vietnam.
There were RA= Regular Army (enlisted)…NG= National Guard, and US= Draftee, AR= Army Reserve
Also…. the divinity schools were full back then. Divinity students got a deferment.
Back then it was extremely difficult to find a slot in a national guard or reserve unit. If you were lucky enough to get in…you would go off for basic training and AIT and then return to your home unit to serve out your 6 year enlistment. No Vietnam.
There were RA= Regular Army (enlisted)…NG= National Guard, and US= Draftee, AR= Army Reserve
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 3:29 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 1:09 pm to Bamafig
My birthday is in the last ten numbers drawn.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 1:29 pm to chinhoyang
My sister was engaged to a guy who had low number and was almost guaranteed to go to Vietnam . So his next option was Peace Corps. He joined up and He spoke fluent French. So they sent him to Vietnam. He came back with a tremendous case of PTSD from artillery landing nearby and a fairly significant substance abuse issue
Posted on 6/8/26 at 1:32 pm to Bamafig
This was an eye opening read. For those of you who served, thank you for your service. I can’t imagine the fear those young men were subjected to. I hope we never see another draft
Posted on 6/8/26 at 2:18 pm to Bamafig
I remember watching it on TV. One night, can’t remember the year, seems like 1968. I was born in 52. My number was 296, I never got called. I had friends who got low numbers like 3, one got called the next week and off to San Diego. He ended up as gunnner on a Helicopter. Fun times.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 2:56 pm to SoDakHawk
quote:
Said that a lot of those draftees just went through basic and were thrown into the war. Not the ideal situation to be around those guys in a war zone.
My father in law said some of soldiers serving with him were borderline slow and Special Ed. They could barely read and write. Then we find out after the war(Project 100000) they lowered the standards so these guys could get in. You know we can’t draft the college boys. By the time he left after his year he was an E-5 squad leader at 19.
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 2:59 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 3:01 pm to George Dickel
quote:
Back then it was extremely difficult to find a slot in a national guard or reserve unit. If you were lucky enough to get in…you would go off for basic training and AIT and then return to your home unit to serve out your 6 year enlistment. No Vietnam.
My father in law told me he had a couple of guys in the National Guard that got shipped off with him because they didn’t go to their monthly drills. It’s insane to think that’s all they had to do to stay out of trouble and they got to stay home.
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 3:02 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 3:09 pm to Bamafig
"If I catch you with another f@#$%&& ghost turd or you get your "sports" wrong, im gonna pt your arse till you fricking puke"
You only know if you know.
You only know if you know.
Page 4 of 6
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News