The Selective Service System employed a random selection process in 1969 to determine the order of call for military conscription. Birthdays were assigned to the 366 days of the year, placed in capsules, and drawn from a glass container. This drawing established the sequence in which men born between 1944 and 1950 would be called to serve in the Vietnam War. The recorded sequence dictated which young men were most likely to be drafted, with those assigned lower numbers facing a higher probability of service.
This process aimed to create a more equitable system than previous methods, ideally reducing the potential for manipulation and ensuring fairness in selection. The drawing held immense significance for American men of draft age and their families, profoundly impacting their lives during a period of national division over the Vietnam War. The outcome of this drawing remains a historically relevant event as it significantly influenced the course of the war and shaped public opinion. It underscored the anxieties and uncertainties surrounding conscription during this era.
