What were your feelings and thoughts when you first opened your draft notice?

1. I got mine while I was in Basic Training at Ft. Dix in 1966. I went to see the 1st Sgt and asked him what to do with it. I had just turned 18, and at that age, I thought it was a sacred official government document. He said something like "let me take care of this for you", and threw it in the trash basket. As a welcome to the army, it was my first realization that all parts of the gub'mint may not know what the rest is doing.
2. I joined at 17 because I think that the country was much more patriotic than it is now. Currently, self-serving politicians, self-important children, and self-deluded people who think that feelings are more important than solutions, have wasted our once robust nation. I sort of followed the military industrial complex's opinion that war was a business - and business was good. Hated not even having a change of clothes for weeks at a time, because I had to carry a basic shitload of BA4386s in the field for my PRC77. Instead, I carried a sewing kit. Today's pampered libs would probably have a nervous breakdown.
3. My parents said that I was an adult at 18 - so get out. Uncle Sam needed me. OK, I didn't necessarily believe that, but I was glad to go.

As a nurse, the question of draft had been resolved by Congress in March before I graduated in May, but I was already in contact with a recruiter & planning to enlist.

Got my card, even had a lottery number; 326, but never won the lottery. It was too near the end of the war; guess Uncle Sam didn't need me. Enlisted in the Army few years later.

Joined the Army June 8 1953 and spent 2 yrs 11 mts and 17 days active and went into the ER for a year and then joined the AF in 58. Got my first draft notice during basic in Jul. or Aug 53. Got a letter from the Army in 58 stating that if I didn't start attending Army drill that they were going to draft me. Still waiting. Retired AF in 77.

I hauled ass down to the navy recruiter, showed him the notice, and he worked some magic and got me defered from the draft and enlisted in the navy. (1965) 4 years later, reenlisted in the navy, went in country VN for a year (cam ranh bay) from then on I just stayed in the navy, retired as scpo with 21 yrs. don't regret a minute of it.

I had to read it a couple of times. I didn't really believe it would happen to me.

Panic! I had tried to join the NAVY 3 times, but the recruiters never called me up. After I got my draft notice, I called them and Pleaded with them to take me into the NAVY and they agreed. I went in the next day or two. About the same time, A high school friend who got drafted into the Army was on the bus to go to Detroit for the Army, and they called out my name. He said 'that guy just joined the Navy" ! I spent 4 years in the NAVY (68-72) and leaned a lot, and grew personally from my experience. They wanted me to re-enlist, but I declined. I was a photographer.
My Older brother Robert K., did a tour in Vietnam, field promoted to an officer, and was awarded a Purple Heart. He's on full disability, and unfortunately, he now has Parkinson's.

When I returned from combat during the Korean War in January 1952 I had recently turned 19 and was honorably discharged. I received a letter from the local Draft Board threatening me with jail if I didn't register within 10 days. I received the letter 2 days after the deadline. My draft classification was 5A. I still have the Draft Card.

I thought that my Dads way to get read of me so I said so let it be

Draft # 330, just one more lottery that I was happy to have never played (received # while in basic and was "informed" by DI I couldn't back out after volunteering for non-draft USAF).