Posted on Jul 15, 2015
Who remembers standing in formation for mail call? Does the military still conduct mail call?
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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
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Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
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The last time and only time I remember doing mail call while in formation was when I was attending AIT back in 1993. And like probably most of us, it was pretty much the norm in basic training.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez and making us aware that the only time you stood in formation for mail call was at when you were going through AIT in 1993 [I ma not surprised it was similar to mail call in BCT for you]
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SSgt Brian Brakke for responding and letting us know that you also remember standing in formation during basic training for mail call. Did you go through basic at Lackland AFB or somewhere else ?
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 Cpl Gabriel F. CW5 Jack Cardwell
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 Cpl Gabriel F. CW5 Jack Cardwell
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I did that in Basic Training. In permanent party, there was a mailroom and we had our own box with a combination lock.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding SPC Brian Stephens and letting us know that you remember mail call in basic training. I am not surprised that once you were assigned to a permanent party unit there was a mailroom and you had your own box with a combination lock.
I went through BCT and 12B AIT at Fort Leonard Wood [1974-1975]. Did you go to Fort Sill for BCT and AIT?
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I went through BCT and 12B AIT at Fort Leonard Wood [1974-1975]. Did you go to Fort Sill for BCT and AIT?
FYI Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott SharonSFC Greg Bruorton SFC Michael Young 1stSgt Eugene Harless MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton Debbie Pomeroy Cloud Kathlean KeeslerSGT Tim Fridley (Join to see) SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast CW5 Jack Cardwell Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds SSgt Brian Brakke
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I remember mail call when In was in the Army and Navy, it sucked when you stood waiting and didn't get any mail. In the Navy back in the 70's and 80's when we were underway we had to wait until we got stores brought to us and when you were independent steaming we had to wait a week or 2 until we got stores and fuel. It's great now that they have the computers so they can stay in contact most of the time.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding PO1 Richard Nyberg. Yes I concur with your observation that it "sucked when you stood waiting and didn't get any mail." However, I did enjoy when a friend received mail.
Mail call in good weather was okay. Mail call in the rain sucked as you tries to keep a letter dry. In the 1970s ink on mail tended to blur when wet. :-(
Yes, I concur that email and text messaging is a great way to communicate. I still prefer communications that can be reviewed later such as letters, cards, text messages including Skype.
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Mail call in good weather was okay. Mail call in the rain sucked as you tries to keep a letter dry. In the 1970s ink on mail tended to blur when wet. :-(
Yes, I concur that email and text messaging is a great way to communicate. I still prefer communications that can be reviewed later such as letters, cards, text messages including Skype.
FYI CAPT Bob Bechill LCDR Gordon Brown LT John Chang CDR Thomas Gatliffe CDR (Join to see) PO3 John Wagner PO2 (Join to see) TSgt Randal Groover PO3 (Join to see) CPO (Join to see) LCDR (Join to see) SCPO Del Wolverton FN George Woodruff SN Greg Wright PO3 Michael James CMC Robert Young PO3 Galon Miller SN John McCormack PO2 Tim Zeman
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PO1 Richard Nyberg
Your right in the Army not everyone got mail everyday and it was good to see the others that with happy faces. What helped me in Vietnam was that I got mail from kids at my High School that I had graduated from 8 mos before in Frankfurt Germany, that I had been playing ball with and going to dances with. That seemed like a life time then but it still made me happy. We sure grew up fast then. I was 19 when I got there and turned 20 and I felt like In was 30. Mail call was a precious thing there.
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Being a Yeoman I used to go get the mail sort it out and put it in the appropriate boxes for each department. If it was to big then I would find someone in charge of that department and give it to them. Even in foreign countries I would do this since we had a FPO address. We did have to send a message to switch where it went and sometimes the mail would almost chase us. We would pull into a port for a day or two and leave. One time we did not get mail for 3 months due to us going in and out of different ports. Yes we would get family grams but those were done by radio broadcasts and printed out by radio. We did not have internet at the time so it was that or snail mail when we got into port and stayed there for about 1 week or more. Man some of that mail smelled like a person just poured a perfume bottle on the letter. This of course made the others smell as well. Have some interesting stories to tell about getting the mail but that will have to wait for another post. Great memories.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding PO1 Kevin Arnold and letting us know that when you were a Yeoman you used to go get the mail sort it out and put it in the appropriate boxes for each department. If it was to big then you would find someone in charge of that department and give it to them. Even in foreign countries you would do this since we had a FPO address. We did have to send a message to switch where it went and sometimes the mail would almost chase us. We would pull into a port for a day or two and leave.
I am glad you have great memories of handling the mail.
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.
I am glad you have great memories of handling the mail.
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.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
@PO1 K. Arnold ; that perfume wouldn’t go over in today’s p.c. Environs... (people’s sensitivities and other factors). I told my gal be very light.with dusting powder or spray.. . if it wears off not a prob..
I’ll know you tried.. I told her.. she
Put that Este Lauder in a letter and s’body at The APO asked how old my woman was.. I thought they were referring to her Being about age of s’one mother or elderly Aunt.. Actually I liked that compared to some others.. I wouldn’t get letters for a monrh
and get a 4x6 with several cost’g a nickel more than a regular envelope.. there’d be one from Mom in there s’times.. I was surprised they’d never snooped, didn’t ask.. (maybe they did and got it closed up good enough)... sh’d note on inside how many letters ..
they’d all be there .. I think one time the sniffer dog slobbered on it.. they cleaned it and put in another bigger envelope.. I still got it in a week’s time.. a week and a half is longest I’d waited.. maybe it was just the right timing..,
I’ll know you tried.. I told her.. she
Put that Este Lauder in a letter and s’body at The APO asked how old my woman was.. I thought they were referring to her Being about age of s’one mother or elderly Aunt.. Actually I liked that compared to some others.. I wouldn’t get letters for a monrh
and get a 4x6 with several cost’g a nickel more than a regular envelope.. there’d be one from Mom in there s’times.. I was surprised they’d never snooped, didn’t ask.. (maybe they did and got it closed up good enough)... sh’d note on inside how many letters ..
they’d all be there .. I think one time the sniffer dog slobbered on it.. they cleaned it and put in another bigger envelope.. I still got it in a week’s time.. a week and a half is longest I’d waited.. maybe it was just the right timing..,
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The only time I had mail call was in AF Basic, reminded me of the old war movies. But yeah it was kinda cool to hear your name called out and getting the looks of envy from the guys that didn't get mail that day.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding A1C John Weiss and letting us know that the only time you had had mail call was in AF Basic Training.
Where did you have USAF Basic Training? it at Lackland Air Force base?
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Where did you have USAF Basic Training? it at Lackland Air Force base?
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SPC Margaret Higgins Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGT Gregory Lawritson
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
Seeing by look’g above (but that doesn’t always tell....it couldvof been earlier)... I’m surmising in last 3 or 4 or even maybe 5 to 6 years..
BMT was at Lackland, the only place the AF presently has BMT LTC S. Ford.. That’s ok.. you were not aware of that.. I remember the AF have quite a few bases.... and eventually got them all consolidated at Lackland AFB.. I stopped at s base in Calif. where theyvonce had it(in the 50’s?).. all them barracks wee gone.. that was in ‘75 when i’d Go out venturing around the area..
I liked going alone. .. didn’t have s’one asking ‘can we go back to our base now, I’m bored’... and I dicn’t Have to come out and say ‘suck-it-in-Airman!’ .. (or just say it in my head)...<-usually how i’d Do it if I did.. To me.. getting out was getting out and traveling around and seeing and doing.. I tell them “we’ll be out for the better part of the day, if you got s’where to be, you may want to just stay here!”...
I’d wait for them to decide a couple minutes .. “so... coming along or not? We’re burning daylight!”... “ok, let me get a jacket!” (Gee, it’s 90+ ...)..
BMT was at Lackland, the only place the AF presently has BMT LTC S. Ford.. That’s ok.. you were not aware of that.. I remember the AF have quite a few bases.... and eventually got them all consolidated at Lackland AFB.. I stopped at s base in Calif. where theyvonce had it(in the 50’s?).. all them barracks wee gone.. that was in ‘75 when i’d Go out venturing around the area..
I liked going alone. .. didn’t have s’one asking ‘can we go back to our base now, I’m bored’... and I dicn’t Have to come out and say ‘suck-it-in-Airman!’ .. (or just say it in my head)...<-usually how i’d Do it if I did.. To me.. getting out was getting out and traveling around and seeing and doing.. I tell them “we’ll be out for the better part of the day, if you got s’where to be, you may want to just stay here!”...
I’d wait for them to decide a couple minutes .. “so... coming along or not? We’re burning daylight!”... “ok, let me get a jacket!” (Gee, it’s 90+ ...)..
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Royal pain in the butt in the modern Army in the field, but it was a big deal in the 70s in Germany. Getting people the mail card for field duty was a real nightmare as a First Sergeant in Germany; the end of the old orderly room and the rise of the PACs made those soldiers hard to identify and train. Very few takers in the field, too. In Conus, most exercises were short enough to not worry about it. But, then something massive would come up and you'd have problems because the three people who had the cards before were PCSed. Mail is critical, and given how good we are at getting upset about disruptions in our routine -- soldiers are very good about not liking change -- it's important. Of course, there are good stories. A friend of mine, my lieutenant in 1977, had been at a previous assignment. He'd had to have a major car part shipped from the states; the battalion mail clerk very diligently got this muffler-tail pipe assembly in and made certain that Lt Cantu got it immediately -- in the field, in Grafenwoehr, during tank gunnery.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding 1SG Michael Farrell and sharing your experience as a First Sergeant in West Germany in the 1970s. Your perspective shed a lot of light on the process. Those of us who received mail were thankful; but we had just an inkling of how much had to be accomplished for us to receive the mail.
1. "Getting people the mail card for field duty was a real nightmare as a First Sergeant in Germany"
2. " the demise of the old orderly room and the rise of the PACs made those soldiers hard to identify and train" for mail duty.
3. Being aware of PCS orders far enough out to train and issue mail cards so that there was overlap of duties and hopefully never a complete lack of people authorized soldiers to handle the US mail.
Thanks for sharing the story about Lt Cantu who needed to have a muffler-tail pipe assembly shipped from the states. It was great that the battalion mail clerk very diligently got this muffler-tail pipe assembly in and made certain that got it immediately sent to Grafenwöhr, where Lt Cantu was going through tank gunnery.
I expect the auto shop at Graf or at Vilseck installed the muffler-tail pipe assembly.
FYI 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
1. "Getting people the mail card for field duty was a real nightmare as a First Sergeant in Germany"
2. " the demise of the old orderly room and the rise of the PACs made those soldiers hard to identify and train" for mail duty.
3. Being aware of PCS orders far enough out to train and issue mail cards so that there was overlap of duties and hopefully never a complete lack of people authorized soldiers to handle the US mail.
Thanks for sharing the story about Lt Cantu who needed to have a muffler-tail pipe assembly shipped from the states. It was great that the battalion mail clerk very diligently got this muffler-tail pipe assembly in and made certain that got it immediately sent to Grafenwöhr, where Lt Cantu was going through tank gunnery.
I expect the auto shop at Graf or at Vilseck installed the muffler-tail pipe assembly.
FYI 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
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
1SG Michael Farrell Neither rain nor wind or sleet and snow, or field exercises will keep the mail from......
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks for responding SCPO Larry Knight Sr. I hope it brings back good memories.
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 SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright
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 SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright
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LTC Stephen F.
Are you willing to share any memories, my friend Sgt Randy Wilber?
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 Cpl Craig Marton 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 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 Cpl Craig Marton SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL TSgt Joe C. SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas
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I remember mail call in Basic, AIT, and in the field when we were at NTC or reforgers. It was an amazing rush when you heard your name called and it was a scented letter from your sweetheart!
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks SPC Stanley Robinson for sharing your memories. Emails and text messages are nothing like personal mail IMHO - especially when perfume is involved.
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 SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright
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 SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright
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