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 >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 376
I can also remember waiting at parade rest for the pay master to be paid. If you didn’t report in right you were sent to the back
Of the pay line. Lol
Of the pay line. Lol
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you MSG Brian Wyatt for responding and making us aware you remember mail call.
FYI LTC Jack Regan SSG Paul Headlee MSG Andrew White MSgt David Hoffman MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi 1SG Steven Imerman 1SG (Join to see) 1SG Michael Blount
FYI there is a parallel question on Pay Call at https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
FYI LTC Jack Regan SSG Paul Headlee MSG Andrew White MSgt David Hoffman MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi 1SG Steven Imerman 1SG (Join to see) 1SG Michael Blount
FYI there is a parallel question on Pay Call at https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
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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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you SGM Omer Dalton for responding and making us aware that among other duties you had been appointed as unit mail clerk [I expect decades ago as young enlisted soldier [ in Germany or else South Vietnam].
FYI CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 CSM William DeWolf CSM (Join to see)CSM David Heidke CSM Richard Montcalm CSM (Join to see) CSM Michael J. Uhlig SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SGM Mikel Dawson 1SG (Join to see) 1SG Joseph Dartey SGM Robert Kendall SGM Matthew Quick SGM Steve WettsteinSGM Joseph Wolfe
FYI CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 CSM William DeWolf CSM (Join to see)CSM David Heidke CSM Richard Montcalm CSM (Join to see) CSM Michael J. Uhlig SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SGM Mikel Dawson 1SG (Join to see) 1SG Joseph Dartey SGM Robert Kendall SGM Matthew Quick SGM Steve WettsteinSGM Joseph Wolfe
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SGM Omer Dalton
Battery clerk, Nike missile site, Washington/Baltimore air defense, early 60s, later Germany.LTC Stephen F.
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Those were the days! In some of the sites that I was sent to, we didn't get mail except once a week but, I always got something. It was always nice except for that time that I got a "Dear John". My folks, on the other hand, kept my spirits up and the care packages were gold!
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MSG Felipe De Leon Brown for responding and making us aware that "some of the sites that I was sent to, we didn't get mail except once a week but, I always got something. It was always nice except for that time that I got a "Dear John". My folks, on the other hand, kept my spirits up and the care packages were gold!' Sad news about the Dear John.
FYI 1SG Joseph Dartey 1stsgt Glenn Brackin1SG Henry Yates MSG Andrew White 1SG Frank Boynton 1SG Thomas Driscoll 1SG James Lampe 1SG Joseph Dartey1SG John Highfill 1SG James Matthews 1SG John Millan 1SG James A. "Bud" Parker MSG Charles PerkinsMSG Jim RichardsonMSG David Rogers IIIMSG Brad Sand SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL COL Mikel J. Burroughs
FYI 1SG Joseph Dartey 1stsgt Glenn Brackin1SG Henry Yates MSG Andrew White 1SG Frank Boynton 1SG Thomas Driscoll 1SG James Lampe 1SG Joseph Dartey1SG John Highfill 1SG James Matthews 1SG John Millan 1SG James A. "Bud" Parker MSG Charles PerkinsMSG Jim RichardsonMSG David Rogers IIIMSG Brad Sand SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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When I was in Basic Training, Airborne School, & RIP at Ft. Benning, GA. Then at Ft. Bragg once I got to the 82nd ABN.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SFC Francisco Rosario for responding and making us aware that "in Basic Training, Airborne School, & RIP at Ft. Benning, GA. Then at Ft. Bragg once I got to the 82nd ABN."
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FYI SFC John Lich SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM SFC (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" GySgt Thomas Vick GySgt Gary Cordeiro SFC Terry WilcoxSFC Frederick Williams SSG Everett Wilson SFC (Join to see)SFC David XantenSSG Michael NollSFC (Join to see)SSG Robert Mark Odom SSG William Jones SGT Steve McFarlandSFC Richard Williamson
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SFC Francisco Rosario
LTC Stephen F. - Mail call was an uplifting moment, no matter how bad a day one had. Getting mail was a great thing.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SGT William Nixson for responding and letting us know that you remember standing in formation for mail call. I expect it brings back mixed memories - hopefully mostly good memories.
FYI SFC (Join to see) SFC Richard Williamson SSgt Gary Andrews GySgt Gary Cordeiro SPC Nancy Greene
SSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn BrackinSSG Stephen RogersonCPT Paul WhitmerSSG Samuel KermonSP5 Geoffrey VannersonSFC John LichSPC Randy Zimmerman
SPC Richard (Rick) HenrySSG Pete FishLT Ed Skiba
Sgt Steven B Crane Ed-d-c-MBAMaj Scott Kiger, M.A.S.
1SG Walter Craig
FYI SFC (Join to see) SFC Richard Williamson SSgt Gary Andrews GySgt Gary Cordeiro SPC Nancy Greene
SSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn BrackinSSG Stephen RogersonCPT Paul WhitmerSSG Samuel KermonSP5 Geoffrey VannersonSFC John LichSPC Randy Zimmerman
SPC Richard (Rick) HenrySSG Pete FishLT Ed Skiba
Sgt Steven B Crane Ed-d-c-MBAMaj Scott Kiger, M.A.S.
1SG Walter Craig
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Mail call in formation was either great or terrible. I had a 1SG that made us open any package for inspection to make sure we didn’t have contraband in the barracks. If you had a company a-hole you didn’t like, it was always fun to send him embarrassing items in the mail. It could get pretty creative.
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend CPT(P) Jake Ledgerwood for responding and making us aware that "mail call in formation was either great or terrible." I expect the 1SG who made everybody "open any package for inspection to make sure we didn’t have contraband [Pogey Bait] in the barracks" was considered an A-hole :-)
I expect nobody sent that 1SG any embarrassing items in the mail :-)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs COL Charles Williams 1SG Steven Imerman 1SG Joseph Dartey 1SG (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SMSgt Lawrence McCarter ~1407446:SSG Pete Fish]LCDR Clark PatonFN Randy Bohlke
1SG John HighfillLT Ed SkibaMaj Scott Kiger, M.A.S.
SGT James Bower1SG Walter CraigSSG Miguel Angel RivasGySgt Gary CordeiroCW2 James Hughes CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
I expect nobody sent that 1SG any embarrassing items in the mail :-)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs COL Charles Williams 1SG Steven Imerman 1SG Joseph Dartey 1SG (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SMSgt Lawrence McCarter ~1407446:SSG Pete Fish]LCDR Clark PatonFN Randy Bohlke
1SG John HighfillLT Ed SkibaMaj Scott Kiger, M.A.S.
SGT James Bower1SG Walter CraigSSG Miguel Angel RivasGySgt Gary CordeiroCW2 James Hughes CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SMSgt Robert Anderson for responding and making us aware that the only station/duty you had mail call was in basic training and tech school.
I expect you experience mirrors that of many.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker SMSgt Lawrence McCarter TSgt Joe C. TSgt David L. MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi MSgt David Hoffman Maj Robert Thornton Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Kim Patterson Maj Marty Hogan 1stsgt Glenn BrackinJennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill Cpl Louie Serrano SFC (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Sgt (Join to see)
I expect you experience mirrors that of many.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker SMSgt Lawrence McCarter TSgt Joe C. TSgt David L. MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi MSgt David Hoffman Maj Robert Thornton Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Kim Patterson Maj Marty Hogan 1stsgt Glenn BrackinJennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill Cpl Louie Serrano SFC (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Sgt (Join to see)
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We didn't do formations but in my first Unit, we had mail call every day at 1700, Right after the last formation of the day.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SSG David Kaelin for responding and making us aware that you did not have a mail call formation in your first unit and after the last formation of the day mail call was held less formally.
fYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGM Mikel Dawson LTC John Shaw 1SG Steven Imerman 1SG Joseph Dartey 1SG (Join to see) 1SG John Highfill 1stSgt Glenn Brackin SFC William Farrell SFC John Lich SGT Steve McFarland SP5 Mark Kuzinski TSgt David L. SGT (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see)
fYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGM Mikel Dawson LTC John Shaw 1SG Steven Imerman 1SG Joseph Dartey 1SG (Join to see) 1SG John Highfill 1stSgt Glenn Brackin SFC William Farrell SFC John Lich SGT Steve McFarland SP5 Mark Kuzinski TSgt David L. SGT (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see)
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Only time that I have done mail call, outside of Basic Training, was when deployed. We would all sign forms authorizing our NCOs to pick up our mail from the Battalion mail room. After the mail was picked up, it would be handed out to the individuals, or placed on the "mail table" in the shop so when you came on shift, your mail was waiting for you. When I was on nights at KAF, one of my additional duties was acting a the mail clerk for the guys on night shift. When I knew that we had gotten in a mail shipment, I would sort through it and take it around to the various shops as I did not have time to sit in the "mail SPAM*" all night, and they didn't always have the time to come to the SPAM* during the published "office hours".
*Shelter, Expandable, Shop, Portable, Aircraft Maintenance, somewhat affectionately referred to as the SPAM.
*Shelter, Expandable, Shop, Portable, Aircraft Maintenance, somewhat affectionately referred to as the SPAM.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SSG (Join to see) for responding and making us aware that the only time you had mail call outside of BCT was while deployed.
Thanks for posting the acronym "Shelter, Expandable, Shop, Portable, Aircraft Maintenance, somewhat affectionately referred to as the SPAM." Mail SPAM is a nice turn of a phrase on email spam. :-)
Thanks for sharing some detail on mail procedures while you were deployed
1, Everybody had to "sign forms authorizing our NCOs to pick up our mail from the Battalion mail room. After the mail was picked up, it would be handed out to the individuals, or placed on the "mail table" in the shop so when you came on shift, your mail was waiting for you."
2. When you had night duty at KAF, one of your "additional duties was acting as the mail clerk for the guys on night shift. When I knew that we had gotten in a mail shipment, I would sort through it and take it around to the various shops as I did not have time to sit in the "mail SPAM*" all night,"
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisA1C Ian Williams SSgt Boyd Herrst Col Carl Whicker SPC Margaret Higgins
Thanks for posting the acronym "Shelter, Expandable, Shop, Portable, Aircraft Maintenance, somewhat affectionately referred to as the SPAM." Mail SPAM is a nice turn of a phrase on email spam. :-)
Thanks for sharing some detail on mail procedures while you were deployed
1, Everybody had to "sign forms authorizing our NCOs to pick up our mail from the Battalion mail room. After the mail was picked up, it would be handed out to the individuals, or placed on the "mail table" in the shop so when you came on shift, your mail was waiting for you."
2. When you had night duty at KAF, one of your "additional duties was acting as the mail clerk for the guys on night shift. When I knew that we had gotten in a mail shipment, I would sort through it and take it around to the various shops as I did not have time to sit in the "mail SPAM*" all night,"
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisA1C Ian Williams SSgt Boyd Herrst Col Carl Whicker SPC Margaret Higgins
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI SFC (Join to see) SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" CPT (Join to see) CPT Gabe Snell LTC Stephen Conway COL (Join to see) SFC(P) (Join to see)LTC Stephan Porter SSgt (Join to see)SFC Randy Purham
CDR (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) SSG V. Michelle Woods SFC (Join to see) Lt Col (Join to see) TSgt Steve WaideCPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. CW3 (Join to see) SSG Leonard J W.
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F. - Mail SPAM, because we were using an old, unused SPAM as a mail room on the flightline.
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Been a couple units pre and shortly after post 9/11 that did mail call though it was something of a gag post 9/11. Saw it twice in an FA BN where the unit did not have a mail clerk and the 1SG did mail call at end of day formation for us barracks dwellers. Had a tiny but tight knit S3 shop the first time I was in South Korea from 03-04, we would do an impromptu mail call as well internal to the shop. Had a 1SG bring mail to us while in Afghanistan especially on holidays and birthdays out of sheer morale and love of the troops. Had heard of reports of BN level CSMs while in 173rd who would hop on birds and bring mail to the outlying COPs where dudes were going feral out in Afghanistan as well.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SFC (Join to see) for responding and sharing your experiences with more formal mail call prior to 9-11-2001 and impromptu mail call post 9-11-2001.
I appreciate the detail you included - especially in close-knot groups of soldiers such as the S3 shop in South Korea and the unit 1SG bringing mail on special occasions out to the forward outposts, etc. while you were deployed to Afghanistan.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisA1C Ian Williams SSgt Boyd Herrst Col Carl Whicker SPC Margaret Higgins
I appreciate the detail you included - especially in close-knot groups of soldiers such as the S3 shop in South Korea and the unit 1SG bringing mail on special occasions out to the forward outposts, etc. while you were deployed to Afghanistan.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisA1C Ian Williams SSgt Boyd Herrst Col Carl Whicker SPC Margaret Higgins
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI SFC (Join to see) SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" CPT (Join to see) CPT Gabe Snell LTC Stephen Conway COL (Join to see) SFC(P) (Join to see)LTC Stephan Porter SSgt (Join to see)SFC Randy Purham
CDR (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) SSG V. Michelle Woods SFC (Join to see) Lt Col (Join to see) TSgt Steve WaideCPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. CW3 (Join to see) SSG Leonard J W.
CDR (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) SSG V. Michelle Woods SFC (Join to see) Lt Col (Join to see) TSgt Steve WaideCPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. CW3 (Join to see) SSG Leonard J W.
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