[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Up until 1969, there were many avenues for deferment. I graduated from college in 1969 and began working for a defense contractor (Grumman.) At the time, employees of firms in this industry were granted deferments.

By that year, however, there was a great deal of pressure to make the war more egalitarian (the left was protesting, among other issues, that the burden of soldiering was being unfairly borne by those not fortunate enough to be attending college; college students were deferred.) Many deferments were no longer to be given, and the fairest system imaginable--a lottery-- was instituted, with one's date of birth being the random number. Link . I lost my defense deferment, got a low lottery number (i.e., Number one was first to go--I had #37--the top 100 was surefire induction), and promptly enlusted in the Air Force for a 4 year stint. So, technically, I had two deferments. Maybe John Kerry or Terry McAuliffe will call me a coward.

[Red Badger]

Maybe John Kerry or Terry McAuliffe will call me a coward.

They were calling you a "WAR PIG" and a "BABY KILLER" in 1971...

[familyofman]

"I lost my defense deferment, got a low lottery number (i.e., Number one was first to go--I had #37--the top 100 was surefire induction), and promptly enlusted in the Air Force for a 4 year stint."

I graduated in March 1970, lost my student deferment, but got number 300 in the lottery. Hence I never got the call from my local draft board & got married in June 1970. Most draft-age males never got the 'call', and even fewer volunteered (especially after '67 - '68). I never considered myself a 'draft dodger' since I never got the 'call'.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I lost my defense deferment, got a low lottery number (i.e., Number one was first to go--I had #37--the top 100 was surefire induction),

I had much the same story at Lockheed. I would have enlisted in the Navy. (Sometimes I regret that I did not.) I had a high number, they got as far as my physical, and while I waited out December for my call, they stopped one number short and went into January and a new lottery. Of course I was using the system to avoid the draft, but I was not opposed to serving, and like you I could have had a different number. Nevertheless, I could have volunteered for either the regular service or the national guard. I was married at the time, (no children) and my wife was very opposed to serving, so I was caught in the middle. Later our differences led to a divorce, it was starting at the time but I did not see it.

[Howlin]

So, technically, I had two deferments. Maybe John Kerry or Terry McAuliffe will call me a coward.

But that's not the way THEY are counting it; according to the way they are counting Cheney's deferment, so each year counts as one!

You, in reality, you had FIVE deferments, just like Cheney. :-)