Posted on Jul 15, 2015
Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in?
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I remember pay call while being stationed in Bamberg, Germany in the early 1980's. I think pay call was only used for forces stationed overseas [expect that includes all Navy vessels as well] where a choice of currency to receive your pay made sense. Pay call made sense when many service members did not have direct deposit for their salary. I don't know if pay call still exists and where it is used.
[Update July 19] I was an infantry training company commander in 1985 and 1986 so the soldiers under my command [IET soldiers] had pay call and I am pretty sure they were strongly encouraged to get direct deposit. I don't remember if the National Guard soldiers had to switch to direct deposit after they finished infantry one station unit training (OSUT) or if they were exempted because they were not going to be on active duty.
Images: Marines 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company Pay Call;
FYI Sgt Larry IrvineCSM Tony BlairSGT David SchraderSSG Roy Kelly IIPO2 Marco MonsalvePVT Mark WhitcombSSG (Join to see)SPC Maurice EvansPFC Joshua WeightmanSFC Eric HarmonCPL Patrick RasmussonMAJ Byron OylerSPC John WilliamsMSgt Gloria VanceSGT Tiffanie G.SSG (Join to see)SPC Steven DepuyPO3 Myles PostSGT Juan Robledo
[Update July 19] I was an infantry training company commander in 1985 and 1986 so the soldiers under my command [IET soldiers] had pay call and I am pretty sure they were strongly encouraged to get direct deposit. I don't remember if the National Guard soldiers had to switch to direct deposit after they finished infantry one station unit training (OSUT) or if they were exempted because they were not going to be on active duty.
Images: Marines 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company Pay Call;
FYI Sgt Larry IrvineCSM Tony BlairSGT David SchraderSSG Roy Kelly IIPO2 Marco MonsalvePVT Mark WhitcombSSG (Join to see)SPC Maurice EvansPFC Joshua WeightmanSFC Eric HarmonCPL Patrick RasmussonMAJ Byron OylerSPC John WilliamsMSgt Gloria VanceSGT Tiffanie G.SSG (Join to see)SPC Steven DepuyPO3 Myles PostSGT Juan Robledo
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Edited 3 y ago
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I remember being a pay officer in Germany for 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment at Warner Barracks in Germany. I carried a briefcase with US dollars and Deutsche marks from the finance office to the battalion area. I was armed with a pistol in the holster while carrying and issuing the money during pay call. Having to keep strict accountability of the funds was an important lesson for me as a young officer.
I certainly enjoyed spending my Deutsche marks at the Bäckerei [bakery], Metzgerei [meat market] especially when we are on maneuvers in the German countryside.
Images: 1981-09 1st BN 52nd IN Controllers for Reforger exercise –results of morning brotchen run – breakfast on the hood of the jeep - West of Giessen, Germany.
1981-09 1st BN 52nd IN Controllers for Reforger exercise –results of morning brotchen run – alternate of breakfast on the hood of the jeep - West of Giessen, Germany
FYI CPT Scott Sharon SSgt Boyd Herrst SGT Philip Roncari SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSgt Albert Castro SGT Jim ArnoldSGT Rick Colburn PO3 Phyllis Maynard
Maj Robert ThorntonSFC Greg Bruorton SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see)
I certainly enjoyed spending my Deutsche marks at the Bäckerei [bakery], Metzgerei [meat market] especially when we are on maneuvers in the German countryside.
Images: 1981-09 1st BN 52nd IN Controllers for Reforger exercise –results of morning brotchen run – breakfast on the hood of the jeep - West of Giessen, Germany.
1981-09 1st BN 52nd IN Controllers for Reforger exercise –results of morning brotchen run – alternate of breakfast on the hood of the jeep - West of Giessen, Germany
FYI CPT Scott Sharon SSgt Boyd Herrst SGT Philip Roncari SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSgt Albert Castro SGT Jim ArnoldSGT Rick Colburn PO3 Phyllis Maynard
Maj Robert ThorntonSFC Greg Bruorton SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see)
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CPT Earl George
I was pay officer in Germany. One time, when I was pay officer for the company, An E-2 set up shop about 10 feet from me. About 50 members of the company stopped to see him after getting paid. Long story short, he had about $2000.00 in his hand when he was last in line to get paid. We did not know he was dealing drugs before that moment, but did afterwards.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend for sharing a great anecdote story CPT Earl George Hopefully he was apprehended and served time for dealing drugs.
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CPT Earl George
MAJ (Join to see) - I was stationed in Schweinfurt 72-75 and at Conn barracks with the 1BDE HQ 74-75. The 2/64 armor was there. I was also there when the soldier from the 2/64 I believe got a dear John letter and stole a tank. He drove out the main gate down to the next little town, ran over 2 VW's and then came back through the back gate (running over the guard shack) and finally throwing a track near the bowling alley with the mP's subdueing him there.
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Pay call in the late 50s was in cash, once a month. Right after the appropriate amount was disbursed, the 1SG was ready to be sure that each EM was "participating" in the US Savings Bond program, and whatever other charitable functions were current that month. Long ago and far away - for and EM under E6 to have a checking account permission from the COC was needed. Looks like many things have truly improved over the last few generations.
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1LT Rich Voss
Wow ! I'd almost forgotten about the "Bond of the Month" club. I think our "Top" shamed us young officers into doing that as a good example for the men. Not so many years later I used them as a down payment on my first house. And boy, did the bank manager give me grief about cashing them in ! One of my duties was pay officer and that was fun. But one had better be accurate ! The "not fun" part of that job was having a guy (very briefly) set up his table in the same day room and collect on his "loans". Perhaps he figured with armed guards there already HE was safe from shenanigans. He was calmly instructed to move his operation elsewhere...
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SFC Bill Snyder
In1958 they converted MCPs to US Currency. I was lucky enough to drive the van that went to the Finance enter in Pirmasens (c)to pickup all the US Dollar for the Finance Officer in Leighton Barracks that supported the 3ID in Wurzburg and Bamberg. Millions of $$$$. (3 months pay per person supported by that Finance Officer, plus extras for what ever. Each case of $$$ 9$1.00, 4.55, 10.00 AND 20.00)was serialized in sequence from 0000001 to 99999 or what ever. When the CO paid out the cash for MPC, his hands were dark green from the ink.
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SSG Richard (Rick) Dana
Back in 1965 we got our little bit of pay once a month in a small brown envelope. We were rich, I think it was like $60+ but they told us we got a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. Right, a tent with C-rats. I still wear my dog tags with the P-38 attached.
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LTC Stephen F. I remember it in 1989-1990, I had to Salute and state my last 4 of my SSN. I remember getting sure pay/casual pay out of a cage. I also remember Bonds/Travels Checks back then.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Samantha S. Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) SGT Philip Roncari SPC Margaret Higgins SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack CardwellCOL Mikel J. Burroughs CPL Dave Hoover SFC Shirley Whitfield LTC Stephen F. SSG William Jones Lt Col Charlie Brown PO1 Tony Holland SGT Jim Arnold TSgt Joe C. PO3 Phyllis Maynard PV2 Mark Zehner LTC Stephan Porter
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Samantha S. Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) SGT Philip Roncari SPC Margaret Higgins SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack CardwellCOL Mikel J. Burroughs CPL Dave Hoover SFC Shirley Whitfield LTC Stephen F. SSG William Jones Lt Col Charlie Brown PO1 Tony Holland SGT Jim Arnold TSgt Joe C. PO3 Phyllis Maynard PV2 Mark Zehner LTC Stephan Porter
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SP5 George Smith
Pay Call in BCT in “68 was fairly quick. As an E1, monthly pay was $102.00. After taxes it was $86.00. Four twenties, one five, and one dollar. SIR! Pvt. Smith reporting for Pay Call. (Wait for returned salute) Verify RA number, produce ID, watch the Lt count out the bills, count my millions, salute, wait for returned salute, and then move out on the double. The extended pain was getting a money order to send money home to my pregnant wife-to-be.
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SSG Dave Castro
SP5 George Smith - I remember getting paid $69.00 in 62 and after taxes $52.00. how did we survive? lol.
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PO1 Roy Grant
1967 is schools command, Mare Island, Ca. I signed and picked up checks each time (2x month)... threw them into my locker. Cashed the oldest one about every two-three months. I still don't drink or smoke. bowling was 25 cents a game, did lots of bowling. But after 7-8 months payroll came after me. They wanted to know where the canceled checks were??? I traded the lot for one big check to be sent home.
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