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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I remember mail call while stationed in Uijongbu. Some times it was the only highlight of a long day.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding SGT John Wesley. I expect receiving mail while being stationed in South Korea was a welcome event.
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Remember in boot camp we'd be standing " on line" and the DI would be on the quarterdeck. He would call out your name and you would have to hold one hand over top the other and report for mail call. Depending on the DI's mood he would put it in your hands or through it down the squadbay and say " Air-mail !", God help you if you had lipstick or perfume on your letter.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks 1stSgt Eugene Harless for bringing back some memories. I remember the senior NCOs smelling letters and commenting on the perfume and when somebody received a batch of cookies, brownies, etc., it was hard to watch the mandatory sharing of said snacks :-(
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CWO3 (Join to see)
It always depended on who was on duty, and mood. I remember mostly air mail. The "hard" DI used to fling handfuls, hog board for the gals with jodie at home, great times at 3rd Herd, Hotel. Convinced the isolation of things provided more flexibility. We dug outside on the way to Parade Deck for graduation. SDI Gunny says you think you're done? Good training.
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I had a Platoon Sgt on the first trip to Iraq who would hold mail call as the last step of the end of mission/duty day accountability formations. Sometimes, when mail would hit just right and he would get slammed with boxes, he would make a big comical production (solely for the laughter it normally generated) about how we were wearing him out with all the mail we were receiving, and on and on.. It was quite often the most savored moment of each day as it co-existed with another day done, the pulling off of the sweat soaked IBAS (body armor) and catching up/going over the events of the day with the rest of the platoon.
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We went individually, to get our mail; LTC Stephen Ford. I was stationed at a very small post. And, I don't know if they still have mail call.
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LTC Stephen F.
SPC Margaret Higgins, did you have mail call when you were going through basic training and advanced individual training? That is when most people remember mail call while in formation waiting with baited breath for expected mail.
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SPC Margaret Higgins
Good Morning, LTC Stephen Ford!
I remember the 'baited breath' feeling; LTC Stephen Ford. However I didn't get much mail. (My parents were abusive. I joined the Army without telling them).
I really don't remember if I had mail call in basic training or in AIT. It was so long ago. This was in 1975; LTC Stephen Ford.
-Best, Margaret
I remember the 'baited breath' feeling; LTC Stephen Ford. However I didn't get much mail. (My parents were abusive. I joined the Army without telling them).
I really don't remember if I had mail call in basic training or in AIT. It was so long ago. This was in 1975; LTC Stephen Ford.
-Best, Margaret
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Nothing better than to get mail, then hir the chow hall for a cold cup of Bug Juice.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding LCpl Cody Collins and making us aware that you also consider mail call to be the best time of the day. I expect the cold cup of Bug Juice was great in hot and warm weather.
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FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord
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2001-2005 USMC, we did mail call from the day I went in to the day I got out. Bootcamp was funny. Some guys would get letters with lipstick kiss marks, and the drill instructor threw it down and made the recruit do push-ups over the envelope. Each time he’d go down, he had to kiss the lips and say oo-baby that’s nice. It was hilarious. In SOI there was a Seargent Draper handing out mail. He trained the 52’s which I think were TOW gunners. He had Turrets syndrome and talked like Johnny Dep in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Then he’d randomly cuss, twitch, and flap his arm with your mail flying in any random direction. This one guy kept getting called out and one letter flipped like the feather in Forrest Gump. Everyone watched as the envelope landed upright and slipped through a crack in the storm drain. The dude looked like he was going to cry even though he had like ten other letters already. Those were two moments I’ll never forget. Thanks for this topic. It brought back some memories that i hadn’t thought of in years.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding Cpl Mark Oresko and making us aware that from "2001-2005 USMC, we did mail call from the day I went in to the day I got out. Bootcamp was funny. Some guys would get letters with lipstick kiss marks, and the drill instructor threw it down and made the recruit do push-ups over the envelope. Each time he’d go down, he had to kiss the lips and say oo-baby that’s nice. It was hilarious."
By the way I have an adult son with Tourette's Syndrome and am very familiar with it.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord
By the way I have an adult son with Tourette's Syndrome and am very familiar with it.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord
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LTC Stephen F.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F. - We had mail during our deployment overseas, Okinawa, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, and including aboard Ship's. We also had this done during Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991. It’s funny when you mentioned this. While on board Navy Vessels out in the South Pacific areas our mail was brought to us by an Oiler and transported by guidelines ship to ship.
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Yes, Also had mail call during Gulf War. Then mail addressed to" "any soldier" .
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding SFC Dennis O'Neal and letting us know that you received mail in mail-call during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield.
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FYI FYI SP5 Jeannie Carle SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik SPC Diana Rodriguez SPC Diana D. SSG Diane R. LTC Hillary Luton Maj Kim Patterson Sgt Kelli Mays SFC (Join to see) SGT Elizabeth S SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" MSG Andrew White SSG(P) (Join to see) 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ Rene De La Rosa TSgt David L.
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Mail call throughout the 1960s and 70s were especially meaningful for me. While stationed at Fort Leavenworth in 1960-1962 I had received three "Dear Johns" from the same girl. I finally put her to rest and went on with life.
Standing in line to report to the Paymaster was of mixed emotions. As a Private E2, when reporting for pay, I would feel pressure from the First Shirt to "donate" a dollar or two at each table flanking him; from Salvation Army, Red Cross, the poor, the afflicted, the maimed, etcetera. My $98 quickly dwindled.
Standing in line to report to the Paymaster was of mixed emotions. As a Private E2, when reporting for pay, I would feel pressure from the First Shirt to "donate" a dollar or two at each table flanking him; from Salvation Army, Red Cross, the poor, the afflicted, the maimed, etcetera. My $98 quickly dwindled.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend SFC Greg Bruorton for responding and making us aware that mail call "throughout the 1960s and 70s were especially meaningful for me." It may well be a "Dear John" record that you "received three "Dear Johns" from the same girl" while "stationed at Fort Leavenworth in 1960-1962."
For your bottom comments, here is a question I asked long ago.
Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in?
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord
For your bottom comments, here is a question I asked long ago.
Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in?
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG William Jones SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord
Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in? | RallyPoint
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...
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
All these comments are stirring more memories! (it's been a loooooooong time LOL) - I remember those "donations" now. I received $275 and yup - some of it went in those piles.
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We were an Airborne unit mobilized in 2003 to Camp Atterbury, IN. Our 1st SGT, an old school tough guy, would hold a company formation, call each individual up to receive his or her mail, then we would have to do 10 push ups for every piece of mail. Us senior NCOs, also being old school and clever, conspired with the rest of the members of the company. We asked each individual to reach out to all their family members and have them all send mail.... to the 1st SGT... quiet then for a few days... then BAMMM! 20 letters for good Ole 1st Sgt Nichols in one day! as the old Airborne Jumpmaster that he was... he got down and knocked those push ups out... over the course of about 10 minutes of course.
Boy did we pay for that one! lol.... All the senior NCOs had to do every push up he did for the next week or so till we could shut down the flood gates of mail.
ahhh those were good days. I am responsible for putting together the reunion for the unit on Veteran's Day every year. 25 of those ole Desert Storm paratroopers showed up.Good times. Thanks for your service to everyone on the page!
Boy did we pay for that one! lol.... All the senior NCOs had to do every push up he did for the next week or so till we could shut down the flood gates of mail.
ahhh those were good days. I am responsible for putting together the reunion for the unit on Veteran's Day every year. 25 of those ole Desert Storm paratroopers showed up.Good times. Thanks for your service to everyone on the page!
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend SFC James Smith for responding and making us aware that you "were an Airborne unit mobilized in 2003 to Camp Atterbury, IN. Our 1st SGT, an old school tough guy, would hold a company formation, call each individual up to receive his or her mail, then we would have to do 10 push ups for every piece of mail. "
"Us senior NCOs, also being old school and clever, conspired with the rest of the members of the company. We asked each individual to reach out to all their family members and have them all send mail.... to the 1st SGT... quiet then for a few days... then BAMMM! 20 letters for good Ole 1st Sgt Nichols in one day! as the old Airborne Jumpmaster that he was... he got down and knocked those push ups out... over the course of about 10 minutes of course."
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"Us senior NCOs, also being old school and clever, conspired with the rest of the members of the company. We asked each individual to reach out to all their family members and have them all send mail.... to the 1st SGT... quiet then for a few days... then BAMMM! 20 letters for good Ole 1st Sgt Nichols in one day! as the old Airborne Jumpmaster that he was... he got down and knocked those push ups out... over the course of about 10 minutes of course."
FYI MSgt David HoffmanSgt (Join to see)Sgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)cmsgt-rickey-denickeSGT Forrest FitzrandolphCWO3 Dave AlcantaraCW3 Matt Hutchason
LTC (Join to see)Sgt John H.PVT Mark ZehnerSPC Robert Gilhuly1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see)SR Marcus PinedaSGT Gerald Palen SGT Steve McFarland
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I remember one day after mail call the Drill Sergeant told us there was no time to read them, I don't remember why, and to put our letters in our pockets. So, being the smart guy that I was, I asked the Drill Sergeant if I could go to the bathroom and while I was in the stall I read the letter from my girlfriend. While I was reading I saw these two shiny black boots appear in my vision just above the letter. Yeah, busted. While doing extra duty or KP or whatever it was, it occurred to me that the DSs have seen it all before and that it probably was not a very smart thing to do. Why is wisdom always so painful?
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend MAJ Matthew Arnold for responding and making us aware about your first-hand-experience with the wisdom of Drill Sergeants [who have seen it all in reality unlike the over-the-top Farmers Insurance commercials :-) ]
I hope the Drill Sergeant allowed you keep that letter from your girlfriend.
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I hope the Drill Sergeant allowed you keep that letter from your girlfriend.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs 1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSFC David XantenSGT Mark AndersonCW4 Craig UrbanSSG Michael NollCPT Daniel CoxSFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSFC Jack ChampionA1C Ian WilliamsPO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrPVT Kenneth Krause SPC Jon O.
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