Fifty years ago today, December 28, 1972, the draft ended.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_28

• 1972 – The last scheduled day for induction into the military by the Selective Service System. Due to the fact that President Richard Nixon declared this day a national day of mourning due to former President Harry S Truman's death, approximately 300 men were not able to report due to most Federal offices being closed. Since the draft was not resumed in 1973, they were never drafted.

[GreenWave]

1. Happy days are here again!

Now let the rich get out there and fight their wars for resource abdication.

[old as dirt]

2. The Catonsville Nine original 5/17/68 footage

Deemed too dangerous for broadcast in May 1968, the iconic footage of nine Catholic activists burning draft files might have been lost forever if not for Pat McGrath — a dogged and sympathetic reporter, who has struggled to ensure its preservation. Read the full story on Waging Nonviolence: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2013/05/how-the-catonsville-nine-survived-on-film/

[underpants]

3. One of my uncles got a letter to report...then got one that said never mind

At least that’s the story I’ve been told.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. I was a 17 year old boy when it ended.

You can't imagine how much relief there was at that time. We were still in the midst of watching the atrocity of Vietnam on the news every night (thank you Walter Cronkite). I did NOT want to get drafted into that quagmire.

[CanonRay]

5. I sweated it out for several years with Lottery #50

which sucked.

[mitch96]

6. I was SO LUCKY.... #342. school deferment and when I HAD to go for the physical I was 1Y

Draft only in national emergency....
Someone was watching out for me...
Story of my life... I play with the sails and the universe steers the boat....
m

[CanonRay]

7. Definitely affected my life

I started out a Physics major, but got stuck in 2nd year Calculus. My GPA was rocketing downward. I couldn't take the time to re-take or audit a course, and couldn't afford a tutor, so it was switch majors or get drafted. Poly Sci baby lol!

[rsdsharp]

8. I guess it depends on what you mean by the draft.

Draft numbers were pulled in 1973. I know; I was in that class. However, no one was inducted. We were all classified as 1-H (Registrant not currently subject to processing for induction or alternative service).