September 14th is drawn as the first birthdate in the US draft during the Vietnam War

In the historical annals of the United States, the Vietnam War stands out as one of the most controversial conflicts in the 20th century. One critical event during this era signified by many as a game-changer unfolded on December 1, 1969. On this day, the Selective Service System launched the first Vietnam War draft lottery, and September 14th turned out to be the first birth date drawn. This event touched, captivated, and stirred emotions among millions across the nation, and its ramifications echo down through subsequent generations.

The U.S. draft during the Vietnam War was, in essence, a tactical mechanism of the Selective Service System to mobilize young men for the war. At the dawn of 1969, the U.S. was deeply embroiled in the war. Public sentiment regarding the continued American presence in Vietnam was increasingly negative, with erupting protests demanding an immediate end to the war. At a time when anti-war sentiment was at a fever pitch, the December 1, 1969, draft lottery became a defining moment.

On this day, the draft lottery was conducted, through which young men were selected for compulsory military service. The crucial detail to note here is that the selection process was based on birthdates, and every date of the year had an equal chance of being picked. When the first birth date, September 14, was drawn, it meant that young men born on this day were the first to become eligible for the draft.

The decision to use birth dates was critical as it affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of young men and their families. For those born on September 14th, the day that had once celebrated their entry into the world became an anxiety-ridden symbol of their potential journey into war.

The effect of this event was two-fold. On a personal level, it gripped the families of the young men, making their everyday existence nerve-wracking as they anxiously waited to see if their son’s birth date would be the next drawn. On a larger scale, it fueled an already volatile American public against the war, resulting in escalated protests and civil disobedience against the draft and overall war policies.