Who remembers standing in formation for mail call? Does the military still conduct mail call?

When I was stationed in Germany pay call was with mail call. Our pay checks came in the mail. I remember one time our company had soldiers AWOL that would turn themselves in the day before checks came. They would get there checks from the mail room the go AWOL again.
2nd Battalion 13th Infantry, 8th ID. Coleman Barracks. Mannheim GE. 1974-1977

I am a 66-yr old RN, civilian, the widow of my dear Air Force Retired E-8 husband for the last 20 years. And I have to say how important letter writing was to us back in the 60's and 70's, during isolated tours and TDY's. We had a total of 23 wonderful years and 3 children together, which never would have happened without those love letters. I met Richard (Dick) whenI was 15 1/2 at our roller rink near his base. Then he went for a year isolated to Thailand and we wrote letters each day of that year and fell in love through them. Luckily when he returned he got a base near the previous one and were able to see each other often. After I graduated high school, we continued dating and allowed me to finish a two-year RN program, graduated, took the nursing boards and married the following weekend. Now I am still without him physically but will always have him in my heart and in the letters I will read and reread.

In clearing my 94 y.o. mother's house to sell and have her move in with me, we came across her and Dad's love letters from the 1940's / 50's. He was also AF, a retired Major. We used to all write letters and wait for weekly MARS station calls with pre-arranged times. Such wonderful memories!!!

Thanks for reading!
Alene (Patty) Gauthier, RN
Bradenton, FL 34209

Mail call? I stood in line to get paid in cash by an armed officer and an armed MP behind him and had to sign for it.

I had lots of mail call. It was always a good time of the day. News from home was always nice to get. You were always happy to get mail.

Last time I had mail call was Basic Training back in 1971. But nothing significate happened. But during my third week of basic my parents sent me pictures of their vacation visiting family in Mexico. Sitting by the pool, dad playing around a motor cycle, etc. My TI reminded me, that I still had five more months before I could even start thinking about leave.

They had it when I was in Iraq.

I think as time goes on it will change. But lets remember that even in this modern age. Not everyone has a Computer. Plus how do you Email those cookies or fruit cake. LOL

What memories! All through BCT & AIT. After that, you walked to the mailroom .

...good times...

Yes I remember mail call, A week after I enlisted BCT. Senior Drill would start calling names and folks would go get their mail God help you if he had to spell your name cause he could not pronounce it you were down knocking out push-up's. I kept thinking who would write to you here you don't have time to read it. About that time Senior Drill called out John Boy, I just stayed at ease mind running side ways with every thing we were learning then I Heard Private Walton do you know anyone that can write? Yes Senior Drill SGT. Well get you ass up here. You know the position just hit it. So as I knocked out the twenty push ups he informed me I was now John Boy, of course I laughed and decided I would just do another twenty because I knew it was going to happen anyways. Later in life I got the honor of passing out mail for mail call at perm. party. I was done way different then. But fond memories. JMTC