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
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
Can remember how important mail call was to us in ranger school... Always felt bad for those guys who got none. Another distinct moment etched in my mind is when I got divorce papers from my wife in the field on a rainy day in Hoenfels.
(9)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend CPT Fain Edwards for responding how important mail call was in Ranger School.
It must have been depressing to receive divorce papers in the mail - especially while at Hohenfels MTA on a rainy day in Bayern, Deutschland.
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
It must have been depressing to receive divorce papers in the mail - especially while at Hohenfels MTA on a rainy day in Bayern, Deutschland.
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
(3)
(0)
(2)
(0)
Af Widow
So sorry for that rainy day memory. Hopefully you have many more good memories!
Patty Gauthier
Patty Gauthier
(2)
(0)
Yes, in basic training and in the field. We had mail-call. Was not usually a formation. The individual would call out names and send the mail flying thru the air in the general direction of the voice responding.
For bonus points. What was the reason that that individual would call out "SKI". and several voices would say "which one?"
Haha.
For bonus points. What was the reason that that individual would call out "SKI". and several voices would say "which one?"
Haha.
(9)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend SPC William Szkromiuk for responding and making us aware that you had mail call in basic combat training and while in the filed there was no formation and affirmative responses resulted in mail being tossed in your general direction.
As far as the bonus points: I expect their many soldiers with Slavic or Polish last names in your unit :-)
FYI SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordCynthia Croft Capt Rich BuckleyCW4 G.L. SmithSPC Russ BoltonSFC Terry WilcoxPO2 Roger LafarletteSPC Nancy GreeneSSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn Brackin Sgt Kelli Mays PO3 Steven KaminskiLTC Bill Koski SP5 Mark Kuzinski CPT Kirill *Russian* VarshavskiyLTC Scott Rubitsky SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SPC Matthew Lamb
As far as the bonus points: I expect their many soldiers with Slavic or Polish last names in your unit :-)
FYI SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordCynthia Croft Capt Rich BuckleyCW4 G.L. SmithSPC Russ BoltonSFC Terry WilcoxPO2 Roger LafarletteSPC Nancy GreeneSSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn Brackin Sgt Kelli Mays PO3 Steven KaminskiLTC Bill Koski SP5 Mark Kuzinski CPT Kirill *Russian* VarshavskiyLTC Scott Rubitsky SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SPC Matthew Lamb
(3)
(0)
Goes to show how time has changed sooo Much!! When I referred to my memory it was of my Great Aunts on one side of the family that asked me to wear the Dress Blue's when in town and for there mother's Funeral,which was an Honor since she was my Nana(GreatGrandMother)McNeal.
(9)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend PO3 Karen McNeal for the update. That "it was of my Great Aunts on one side of the family that asked me to wear the Dress Blue's when in town and for there mother's Funeral, which was an Honor since she was my Nana (GreatGrandMother) McNeal."
fYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter MSgt David Hoffman COL Mikel J. Burroughs PO1 H Gene Lawrence SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SSG William Jones SSG Robert "Rob" Wentworth MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi
fYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter MSgt David Hoffman COL Mikel J. Burroughs PO1 H Gene Lawrence SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SSG William Jones SSG Robert "Rob" Wentworth MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi
(2)
(0)
Yes to mail call in Turkey in 1985. Then we got a small military post office and every volunteered to help our two postal clerks especially the months of November, December and January!
(9)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you Lt Col Leslie Bryant for responding and letting us know you had mail call while stationed in Turley in 1985 until a small military post office was built and two postal clerks were assigned. I am not surprised to learn that in the cold months of November, December and January you and others volunteered to help to those. postal ceric indoors :-)
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
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
(5)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend SSG Franklin Briant for responding and making us aware that you "remember both mail call and pay call."
(2)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend LTC (Join to see) for responding and letting us know that the last time you had mail call in formation was in basic training in 1984.
FYI PO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrPVT Kenneth Krause SPC Jon O.MAJ RaĂşl RoviraSP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-CwikTSgt David L.
PO1 Robert GeorgeSGT John Melvin1SG John Faircloth
SN Donald HoffmanSSG Robert Mark OdomSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthCapt Rich Buckley
CW4 G.L. SmithSPC Russ BoltonSFC Terry Wilcox
FYI PO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrPVT Kenneth Krause SPC Jon O.MAJ RaĂşl RoviraSP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-CwikTSgt David L.
PO1 Robert GeorgeSGT John Melvin1SG John Faircloth
SN Donald HoffmanSSG Robert Mark OdomSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthCapt Rich Buckley
CW4 G.L. SmithSPC Russ BoltonSFC Terry Wilcox
(5)
(0)
Don't remember having formation for mail call. It was more of mill around mill.
(9)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you PO1 Gerald Sutton for responding and making us aware that you never had mail call in a formation. Expect you mail experience of mill around mill may be common to many.
FYI PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr LTJG Robert M. PO3 (Join to see) PO2 Jonathan Scharff LCDR (Join to see) CMC Robert Young CWO3 Dave Alcantara PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard BruceSgt Jay JonesCWO3 (Join to see) GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia SSgt Terry P. Sgt David G Duchesneau LT John Chang LTJG Josh Thaxton CWO3 Dennis M. CMDCM Gene Treants
FYI PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr LTJG Robert M. PO3 (Join to see) PO2 Jonathan Scharff LCDR (Join to see) CMC Robert Young CWO3 Dave Alcantara PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard BruceSgt Jay JonesCWO3 (Join to see) GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia SSgt Terry P. Sgt David G Duchesneau LT John Chang LTJG Josh Thaxton CWO3 Dennis M. CMDCM Gene Treants
(5)
(0)
I only had mail call most of my Active Duty time. I had three sisters and my girl back home...and they all wrote me regularly. So one used only purple envelopes, one only pink, one yellow, and one a deep rose red color. And each would put a dab of perfume on it too.
My girl always kissed the back of her envelope with her lipstick and wrote : Sealed with a Kiss on it. So every Mail Call, my buddies thought I had a Harem back home. And when my girl sent pictures of her in her new mini-skirt (this was 69,70,71) the guys would drool so much I had to put her pictures in a sandwich bag and carry them with me all the time so they wouldn't get stolen! LOL
My girl always kissed the back of her envelope with her lipstick and wrote : Sealed with a Kiss on it. So every Mail Call, my buddies thought I had a Harem back home. And when my girl sent pictures of her in her new mini-skirt (this was 69,70,71) the guys would drool so much I had to put her pictures in a sandwich bag and carry them with me all the time so they wouldn't get stolen! LOL
(9)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you, my friend SGT Kevin Hughes for making us aware that you had mail call most of your active duty time and "had three sisters and my girl back home...and they all wrote me regularly. So one used only purple envelopes, one only pink, one yellow, and one a deep rose red color. And each would put a dab of perfume on it too.
My girl always kissed the back of her envelope with her lipstick and wrote Sealed with a Kiss on it"
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 Cynthia Croft 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ Rene De La Rosa TSgt David L.
My girl always kissed the back of her envelope with her lipstick and wrote Sealed with a Kiss on it"
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 Cynthia Croft 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ Rene De La Rosa TSgt David L.
(6)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
FYI SGT Mark AndersonCW4 Craig UrbanSSG Michael NollSFC(P) (Join to see)CPT Daniel CoxSFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM
SFC Jack ChampionA1C Ian WilliamsSFC Jay ThompsonPO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrSPC Jon O.MAJ RaĂşl RoviraPO1 Robert GeorgeSSG Robert Mark OdomSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthPV2 Brian HatcherPO2 Roger LafarletteSPC Nancy Greene
SFC Jack ChampionA1C Ian WilliamsSFC Jay ThompsonPO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrSPC Jon O.MAJ RaĂşl RoviraPO1 Robert GeorgeSSG Robert Mark OdomSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthPV2 Brian HatcherPO2 Roger LafarletteSPC Nancy Greene
(4)
(0)
SGT Kevin Hughes
LTC Stephen F. - I saved one envelope from back in those days. I will try and find it - and post a picture of it. I bet if I smelled any of those perfumes...I would be right back in the moment!
(5)
(0)
SGT Kevin Hughes
LTC Stephen F. - Memory is a funny thing. I did have Mail call on every Field Training...and in Garrison over in Germany. Over in Hawaii, we had Mail Call only when we were in the Field. You went to the Mail Room and asked the Clerk if you had any mail, and he checked your box -if you were in Garrison. And the Mail room was only open for "Mail Call" Hours. If you missed morning "Mail Call" and didn't stop by his small little office, well, you had to wait for the end of the Duty Day. If you missed that one...well tomorrow would do. Just wanted to clear that up. Merry Christmas.
(5)
(0)
Around 1975 I had extra duty as the Unit Mail Clerk and I had serve other organizations on base. Everyone came to my mailroom to pick up their mail. I would deliver boxes of books for the ladies at the base library.
(8)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you for responding MSgt Michael Webster and making us aware that in 1975 you"
1. "had extra duty as the Unit Mail Clerk and I had serve other organizations on base. Everyone came to my mailroom to pick up their mail."
2. "would deliver boxes of books for the ladies at the base library."
FYI PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr LTJG Robert M. CAPT (Join to see) PO3 (Join to see) PO2 Jonathan Scharff LCDR (Join to see) CMC Robert Young CWO3 Dave Alcantara PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard Bruce Lt Col Kurtis Sutley MSgt Ronald StacyTSgt Ronald White CMSgt David Wedington Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC PriestSSgt John Wagner TSgt Steve WaideSrA Edward Vong
1. "had extra duty as the Unit Mail Clerk and I had serve other organizations on base. Everyone came to my mailroom to pick up their mail."
2. "would deliver boxes of books for the ladies at the base library."
FYI PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr LTJG Robert M. CAPT (Join to see) PO3 (Join to see) PO2 Jonathan Scharff LCDR (Join to see) CMC Robert Young CWO3 Dave Alcantara PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard Bruce Lt Col Kurtis Sutley MSgt Ronald StacyTSgt Ronald White CMSgt David Wedington Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC PriestSSgt John Wagner TSgt Steve WaideSrA Edward Vong
(2)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
FYI Col Lawrence Torres SSgt (Join to see) Sgt (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown SrA John Monette SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. MSgt Jason McClish SSgt Brian Brakke Maj Robert ThorntonCMSgt (Join to see)TSgt Rodney BidingerMSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-HardySSgt Boyd Herrst Sgt Albert CastroLt Col Jim Coe MSgt John McGowanMSgt David M.Capt James Woodard
(1)
(0)
I loved mail call. And if your girlfriend put perfume on the letter she mailed you was great. But of course the drill sergeants always made fun of the perfume letters.
(8)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you CPL Cadrew Strickland for making us aware that you "loved mail call. And if your girlfriend put perfume on the letter she mailed you was great. But of course the drill sergeants always made fun of the perfume letters."
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 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Cynthia Croft SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Steve McFarland SGT (Join to see) SPC Woody Bullard
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 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Cynthia Croft SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Steve McFarland SGT (Join to see) SPC Woody Bullard
(4)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. 1stSgt Eugene Harless SCPO Morris Ramsey SSgt Robert Marx SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Robert Ruck CPL Dave Hoover SSgt Brian Brakke MSgt David Hoffman LTC Orlando Illi ~202149:MSG Andrew White] Sgt Albert Castro CDR (Join to see) SPC Tom DeSmet
(1)
(0)
Read This Next