"deferment" meant that you were exempt from consideration. Many, maybe even most of us that were drafted, also had deferments. I had deferments because I went to college. Then, when I got out, I was drafted. I guess now I'm a draft-dodger in Kerry's book.
I just joined at 18 out of high school in late 1970. My number was 44 the year before, I didn't have college money, and my cousin joined because his number was pulled. We did the "buddy system" thing in BCT.
He went to Nam and I didn't. Luck of the draw in 1971, I guess.
So, you're telling me that a deferment took your name out of the lottery EVEN IF your birthdate was one of the ones selected. (Was it a double lottery...one for birthdate and then one for name? Or did they just start with the "A's" and work their way to the "Z's?")