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
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend SSG Donald H "Don" Bates for responding and making us aware that at mail call you and your fellow soldiers "ganged up around the mail guy."
FYI CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSP5 Billy MullinsSGT Mark AndersonSSG Michael NollSFC(P) (Join to see)SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSFC Jack ChampionSFC Jay ThompsonCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr SPC Jon O.MAJ Raúl Rovira
SP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-CwikPO1 Jerome NewlandTSgt David L.
FYI CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSP5 Billy MullinsSGT Mark AndersonSSG Michael NollSFC(P) (Join to see)SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSFC Jack ChampionSFC Jay ThompsonCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr SPC Jon O.MAJ Raúl Rovira
SP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-CwikPO1 Jerome NewlandTSgt David L.
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Oh yes, I remember it well. I also remember pay day formation and duty as a pay officer while paying soldiers in cash.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding LTC Jack Regan and letting us know that you remember mail call last century [I expect :-) ].
Thanks as well for letting us know that you were a pay officer as well. I expect you were pay oficer based on a duty roster. I also was a pay officer based on aduty roster. In my case it was in FRG and we offerred US dollars as well as Deutschmarks at pay call armed with an M-1911 .45 caliber pistol :-)
FYI SGT Michael Hearn SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Randy Zimmerman TSgt David L.Sgt Jay Jones MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick PO2 (Join to see) SPC Nancy Greene SGT Denny Espinosa PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SPC Matthew Lamb PO3 Steven Sherrill CWO3 (Join to see)
Thanks as well for letting us know that you were a pay officer as well. I expect you were pay oficer based on a duty roster. I also was a pay officer based on aduty roster. In my case it was in FRG and we offerred US dollars as well as Deutschmarks at pay call armed with an M-1911 .45 caliber pistol :-)
FYI SGT Michael Hearn SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Randy Zimmerman TSgt David L.Sgt Jay Jones MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick PO2 (Join to see) SPC Nancy Greene SGT Denny Espinosa PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SPC Matthew Lamb PO3 Steven Sherrill CWO3 (Join to see)
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Not really. Units run mailrooms and there is an additional duty guy with a 285 card that puts the mail in everyone's boxes and issues out parcels, usually at the barracks. When deployed, they have the units, again with a 285 card holder issue out mail a few hours a day. Sometimes they bring it to you if it's piled up or you have a box taking up space.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding my friend LTC Jason Mackay and letting us know that you don't have memories of mail call and do have memories of
CONUS: units run mailrooms and of an additional duty guy with a 285 card that puts the mail in everyone's boxes and issues out parcels, usually at the barracks.
Deployed: mail units with a 285 card holder that "issue out mail a few hours a day. Sometimes they bring it to you if it's piled up or you have a box taking up space."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs 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 PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
CONUS: units run mailrooms and of an additional duty guy with a 285 card that puts the mail in everyone's boxes and issues out parcels, usually at the barracks.
Deployed: mail units with a 285 card holder that "issue out mail a few hours a day. Sometimes they bring it to you if it's piled up or you have a box taking up space."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs 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 PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
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HD Stock Footage WWII V-Mail To Speed Up Mail Service 1944 Newsreel
http://www.buyoutfootage.com/pages/titles/pd_mnr_139.html True HD direct film transfer New service speeds mail to American GI's in all parts of the world. Sh...
Here is a WWII video - HD Stock Footage WWII V-Mail To Speed Up Mail Service 1944 Newsreel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWnSujuTPi8
FYI SGT Robert Pryor SGT Michael Hearn SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Randy Zimmerman TSgt David L.Sgt Jay Jones MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick PO2 (Join to see) SPC Nancy Greene SGT Denny Espinosa PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SPC Matthew Lamb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWnSujuTPi8
FYI SGT Robert Pryor SGT Michael Hearn SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Randy Zimmerman TSgt David L.Sgt Jay Jones MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick PO2 (Join to see) SPC Nancy Greene SGT Denny Espinosa PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SPC Matthew Lamb
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
I remember those newsreels from my childhood. That's how every movie started :-) Received a letter from a bf on a ship during 'Nam which had a bunch of holes,
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LTC Stephen F.: I arrived at my first formation: with my polished brass, and, with my shoelaces in my hand....Much to my Chagrin. I knew absolutely Nothing about the Army. Later on, in AIT: I read a pamphlet about the Army; in the PX. Then, I became a Squad Leader and a Graduate with Honors; also in AIT.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks SPC Margaret Higgins for sharing your history of learning to be a soldier - I imagine shoelaces in hand must have generated an interesting reaction :-)
FYI SGT Robert Pryor SGT Michael Hearn SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Randy Zimmerman TSgt David L.Sgt Jay Jones MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick PO2 (Join to see) SPC Nancy Greene SGT Denny Espinosa PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SPC Matthew Lamb
FYI SGT Robert Pryor SGT Michael Hearn SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SPC Randy Zimmerman TSgt David L.Sgt Jay Jones MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick PO2 (Join to see) SPC Nancy Greene SGT Denny Espinosa PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see) Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SPC Matthew Lamb
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SPC Margaret Higgins
LTC Stephen F. - A Highly interesting reaction, Steve, to say the Least??!! ;) I was teased; all throughout Basic Training. HAVE a terrific rest of your weekend!
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks CWO3 (Join to see) for sharing your first mail call and pay call. I also well remember pay call. In Germany as pay officer I had to have dollars and Deutsche Marks to pay soldiers.
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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CWO3 (Join to see)
Our Pay Officer was any 1stLt it seems, with ammo cans of cash, and an armed NCO riding shotgun. M151 jeep, a logbook and M1A1 Skilcraft Pen, Black. It was quick as they made stops. $140 every two weeks or so doesn't take long to count. The bennies though. SF
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I remember very well! It was the highlight of the day waiting to hear your name called. It was also a very lonely experience when your name wasn't called. Loved care packages from home made me feel better on those long nights.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding SPC Bill Earley and letting us know it was a "highlight of the day waiting to hear your name called."
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LTC Stephen F. - Colonel; The most hilarious thing that I recall ever hearing while in formation was a highly decorated (and long retired) BGen telling the School Commandant to "Have the men stand at ease if they aren't already doing so." before addressing the march off parade for a class of graduating 2LTs.
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LTC Stephen F.
COL Ted Mc thanks for sharing. For some reason your post reminded me of the command to "be at rest" which I rarely heard and don't think I ever used:-)
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SFC Greg Bruorton
The command, "Rest" was seldom given, but it was reflected in FM 22-5. By the way, is FM 22-5 (Drill and Ceremonies) still in fashion and publication for the troops?
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My boys took advantage of the fact that they still do this in IET. A high school friend of theirs ran a few months behind them when shipping. They gave him a few weeks of training before sending said PVT a letter addressed to SGT "nickname". He reluctantly raised his hand when they yelled who the hell is SGT ....? He was not very happy with my boys, but latter admitted that they had gotten him awfully good.
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LTC Stephen F.
I am glad your sons are able to take advantage of mail call SFC Christopher Perry. It sounds like they inherited a good sense of humor :-)
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