Reading in Deuteronomy 20 the other day reminded me how important the December 1, 1969 military draft lottery was to young men born between 1944 and 1950.  On that night, all birthdates were randomly assigned a number which provided the order in which men were selected for military service. 

Guys were looking for deferments – ways to avoid getting drafted.  There were medical reasons and psychological reasons; there were stories of weight gain or loss; feigning sickness or wackiness during physical exams, or new-found conscientious objection.  Some “draft dodgers” moved to Canada.  But the main deferment was to enroll in college– keep studying and passing those classes.  As soon as you graduate, you were in the pool or potential draftees and your number dictated the order of selection. 

My birthday, November 5, was Number 310; once I found out that the highest drafted number was about 200, I changed my student deferment to 1-A, available for service.  At the end of 1970, I was effectively not going to get drafted. 

My friend Dave Cushman was Number 4.  He decided to enlist and request a European assignment away from the Vietnam arena.  I don’t know how long he served, but he was able to be in our wedding in September 1972.

The Deuteronomy deferments were different.  If you had built a new house and had not yet dedicated it, you were dismissed until after the dedication.  If you had just planted a vineyard, you could go home until after you enjoyed some of the fruit.  An engaged man was to go back to his house and get married.  And, anyone who was “fearful and fainthearted” was sent home so as to not make others afraid.  One suspects there were a number of schemers in Canaan who stayed out of the battles by being polygamist real estate developers or inept farmers.