Would You Have Been Drafted For Vietnam?

[ER]

Would you have been drafted? (Although women weren't drafted, my birthdate was called up.)

https://www.usatoday.com/vietnam-war/draft-picker/

[Alex]

It seems I'd have been number 35, but if I had been born 2 days earlier I'd have avoided it. Seems rather random.

[RCMerchant]

Well, my Uncle Ron was in Vietnam. His son, who is 2 years older than me-his name is Ron. I'm Ron Merchant III.
What was the topic?  

[ER]

It seems I'd have been number 35, but if I had been born 2 days earlier I'd have avoided it. Seems rather random.

As I understand it, everyone eligible for service was assigned a number between 1-366, after a birthday was drawn at random to go with each number. If your birthday was matched with an early number it made it more likely you'd be drafted than if your birthday was up in, like, the 300s. So one day early or late could make a big difference. I think something like half the numbers were called up at the height of the war.

[lester1/2jr]

Your draft number 53 was called in 1970.

If your birthday was just 3 days earlier, your draft number would not have been called.


My Dad was in Vietnam. He managed to switch jobs from helicopter mechanic or something to accountant, but he still hated every minute of it

[Trevor]

Yes, number 158 was called in 1970.

My genuine age at the time would have guaranteed me a deferment 😉