Posted on Jul 15, 2015
Who remembers standing in formation for mail call? Does the military still conduct mail call?
235K
8.9K
1.29K
632
632
0
I was recently reminded me of the importance and significance of mail call especially in the days before email, cell phones and texting existed in the 1950's 1960's, 1970's and I think through the 1980's. Waiting with anticipation in formation as a young enlisted man in sun, snow, rain or wind for mail call. The weather was much less important than hearing the names of friends called out to get mail and then hearing my own name which was wonderful. Going back to the barracks to smell envelopes from girl friends, read the letters on my bunk.
Later as a cadet at West Point one of the duties of the freshman class known as plebes was to distribute the mail to the upper classmen. It was a very important function and seemed to release a sense of common humanity and a brief period of humane treatment.
After I was commissioned in 1980, my mail was delivered to me except when we were away from home station when we would have mail call or else wait until the operation was over and then mail would be distributed.
Images: mail call wingen 70th ID WWII; Korean War early afternoon mail call brought these Thunderbirds in the 279th Infantry; Mail call! Pfc Glen Zachery of the 19th Army Postal Unit brings a sack of mail to the
Later as a cadet at West Point one of the duties of the freshman class known as plebes was to distribute the mail to the upper classmen. It was a very important function and seemed to release a sense of common humanity and a brief period of humane treatment.
After I was commissioned in 1980, my mail was delivered to me except when we were away from home station when we would have mail call or else wait until the operation was over and then mail would be distributed.
Images: mail call wingen 70th ID WWII; Korean War early afternoon mail call brought these Thunderbirds in the 279th Infantry; Mail call! Pfc Glen Zachery of the 19th Army Postal Unit brings a sack of mail to the
Communications
Military History
Troops
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
11
11
0
Who remembers being assigned the Mail Bouy Watch? MCPO Roger Collins PO3 Bob McCord SCPO Larry Knight Sr. PO2 Brian Rhodes PO3 Steven Sherrill @
(11)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding my friend SCPO Morris Ramsey
FYI do you remember being assigned the Mail Bouy Watch? PO2 Jeremy Spears PO2 Lester Sullivan CPO Nate S.PO3 Shaun Taylor LTJG Josh ThaxtonCMDCM Gene Treants SN Alex TufailPO3 John WagnerPO2 (Join to see)
PO3 (Join to see) CPO (Join to see)LCDR (Join to see) SCPO Del WolvertonFN George WoodruffSN Greg WrightCMC Robert YoungPO2 Tim ZemanSN Ron Jett
FYI do you remember being assigned the Mail Bouy Watch? PO2 Jeremy Spears PO2 Lester Sullivan CPO Nate S.PO3 Shaun Taylor LTJG Josh ThaxtonCMDCM Gene Treants SN Alex TufailPO3 John WagnerPO2 (Join to see)
PO3 (Join to see) CPO (Join to see)LCDR (Join to see) SCPO Del WolvertonFN George WoodruffSN Greg WrightCMC Robert YoungPO2 Tim ZemanSN Ron Jett
(4)
(0)
PO1 Robert George
Managed to dodge that one! On an LST you also had keys to the stern gate and keys to the bow doors. There was also ?? feet of shore line so we could beach. One of the best was actually done by the CO of the 'T' I was on when we crossed the International Date Line. Had me break out a case Sea Dye Marker and drop off fantail at intervals then had the ship do a long slow turn and come back around. Passed the word over !MC that we were about to cross the Int'l Date Line and anyone who wished to see it should lay to the fo'c'sle. Had a kid run up with a tripod, a Nikon 35mm and a telephoto lens that was at least 2 feet long. Got set up...and there it was! A nice long line of green dashes on the ocean surface! Must have used a whole roll of film. Got told later the Old Man was on TopConn laughing his butt off.
(3)
(0)
11
11
0
Mail call, how many millenium ago was that. Basic, at Lackland AFB, 1971. Waiting to read mail from my family and friends. But oh the pain of getting a "care package" from one of them! How many people wanted Oreos or see what other items I received.
(11)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thanks you SSgt Daniel d'Errico for letting us know that you remember mail call at basic training at Lackland, Air Force Base in 1971. I also remember waiting to see if a letter came to me from family or friends - including perfumed letters :-)
Getting a care package with enforced sharing was not much fun :-)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Gabriel F. Cpl Scott McCarroll
Getting a care package with enforced sharing was not much fun :-)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Gabriel F. Cpl Scott McCarroll
(4)
(0)
11
11
0
LTC Stephen F.
Thanks LTC (Join to see) for sharing a video of Yusha Thomas acting as a drill sergeant at mail call - parts 1 through 3
PO3 Steven Sherrill COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
PO3 Steven Sherrill COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
(6)
(0)
11
11
0
New T-Shirt Link: https://www.yushathomas.com/collections/men/products/hold-what-you-got-t-shirt Click Link To Subscribe to My Youtube Channel: https://www.y...
(11)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Belated thank you, my friend LTC (Join to see) for responding so long ago and posting Mail Call part 2 :-)
FYI PO3 Steven Sherrill COL Mikel J. Burroughs MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Cynthia Croft SPC Margaret Higgins SSG Stephen Rogerson LTJG Robert M. SSG Robert Mark Odom
FYI PO3 Steven Sherrill COL Mikel J. Burroughs MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Cynthia Croft SPC Margaret Higgins SSG Stephen Rogerson LTJG Robert M. SSG Robert Mark Odom
(4)
(0)
11
11
0
When I was the S-2/STA Plt Ldr; On deployment the STA Plt Sgt just distributed the mail in the squad bay. Except... If there was a care package for me from home. Then mail call went in the 2 shop, the entire platoon on deck.
(11)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Wow Maj John Bell from what you said, I expect you received world-class care packages from home. I hope mandatory "sharing": was not the order of the day :-)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGM Mikel Dawson LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) CPT Gabe Snell MSG Dan Walther CW5 Jack Cardwell CW5 (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Seid Waddell SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan CPL Craig Cheltenham PO3 Steven Sherrill
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGM Mikel Dawson LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) CPT Gabe Snell MSG Dan Walther CW5 Jack Cardwell CW5 (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Seid Waddell SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan CPL Craig Cheltenham PO3 Steven Sherrill
(3)
(0)
Maj John Bell
My wife sent world class care packages; cookies, brownies, home made candy. And yeah, I passed the stuff around. Plus she knew some things that specific Marines liked and could not get. She would send their specific brand of Hot Sauce, Canned Goods, Peanut Butter or Jelly, etc. etc. In fairness, when the troops got good stuff from home, most of them would drop off a sample on my desk.
My mom sent stuff that got me laughed at;
_A box of fall leaves (I guess she didn't know they have deciduous trees in Okinawa.)
_A case of dehydrated ramen in Korea, when I could walk out the gate and get the real thing.
_A case of the "most wonderful back packer meals that are very popular with back packers" (MRE's, yes not something like MRE's she sent me a case of MRE's)
_"First Aid Supplies" - Kao pectate, Some "no name" hangover cure, perparation H (I didn't have hemmorhoids), etc.etc.
_Penny toys (Those actually weren't bad we tosed them to the little kids that came out to watch us force march.)
My mom sent stuff that got me laughed at;
_A box of fall leaves (I guess she didn't know they have deciduous trees in Okinawa.)
_A case of dehydrated ramen in Korea, when I could walk out the gate and get the real thing.
_A case of the "most wonderful back packer meals that are very popular with back packers" (MRE's, yes not something like MRE's she sent me a case of MRE's)
_"First Aid Supplies" - Kao pectate, Some "no name" hangover cure, perparation H (I didn't have hemmorhoids), etc.etc.
_Penny toys (Those actually weren't bad we tosed them to the little kids that came out to watch us force march.)
(3)
(0)
SFC Greg Bruorton
Maj John Bell - I know you loved that case of Ramen noodles! I hadn't received any "care package" as you've described, but usually crumbled-up cookies that went to the team.
(1)
(0)
11
11
0
For the most part being at smaller units in the CG (outside of training, the largest unit I was at had 87 officers and enlisted, and the average unit was between 15 and 20), we did not have formal mail call. CG was not real big on standing in formation either to tell the truth. Most units we either had mailbox slots somewhere or we would find our mail shoved under the door of the derthing area or tossed on our racks. The exception would be the training centers which were the only units I was ever at large enough to get official. The other issue was for the most part, I was either on watch, coming off watch or off ... duty was often port and starboard, and on occassion port and report ... best duty I ever had was 5 Day, 5 eves, 5 mids, 5 off. Not bad when you're single.
(11)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding PO1 Kevin Dougherty and sharing your memories of ship-board duty. I expect your mail processes were similar to most sailors "we either had mailbox slots somewhere or we would find our mail shoved under the door of the berthing area or tossed on our racks. The exception would be the training centers which were the only units I was ever at large enough to get official."
FYI [COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSG Dan Walther MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson PO1 John Miller PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO3 Steven Sherrill
FYI [COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSG Dan Walther MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson PO1 John Miller PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO3 Steven Sherrill
(4)
(0)
11
11
0
LTC Stephen F.
Thanks for responding COL (Join to see). Do you have any memories you are willing to share of mail call?
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. CPL Dave Hoover SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL TSgt Joe C. SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. CPL Dave Hoover SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL TSgt Joe C. SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas
(4)
(0)
11
11
0
No Sir, that doesn't happen anymore. Even when deployed it was dropped off in a box for you to sort through. You may get an email letting you know who got mail. LOL. Iraq 2010-11. Fun times...
(11)
(0)
11
11
0
I remember mail call in the combat zone; not so much in garrison. My memories of the Army touching my mail in garrison are not great when I lived in the barracks. That is why I got a PO BOX. In my BN, the Soldiers in the barracks have box which are serviced by the post office. I think that's a good thing.
(11)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thanks SSG (ret) William Martin I was not aware that soldiers who lived in the barracks could have their own PO Boxes. That sounds like a secure solution.
(3)
(0)
SSG (ret) William Martin
LTC Stephen F., Yes Sir, if they go to the PO, they can not be denied a PO Box on or off post.
(4)
(0)
11
11
0
Well, We all make a mistake every now and then but wrong boot, that a diffrence story.
(11)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google