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
Last time I had mail-call was in 1978 as an ROTC Cadet. AC in 79, I was an LT so the clerk brought me my mail.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend CPT Lawrence Cichelli for responding and making us aware that you remember mail call and the last time you had mail call was as an ROTC cadet in 1978. It is interesting to me that as a second LT the clerk brought the mail to you in 1979.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Greg Henning MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Marty Hogan MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi Maj Kim Patterson LTC Orlando Illi
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Greg Henning MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Marty Hogan MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi Maj Kim Patterson LTC Orlando Illi
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I am sure glad I was in the AF, we had mail clerks but we didn't have to stand out in bad weather to get our mail.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MSgt Gilbert Jones for responding and letting us know that you are thankful that the USAF had mail clerks and that you never had to stand outside in bad weather for mail call,
FYI Col Carl Whicker Sgt (Join to see) AB (Join to see)SSgt Marian Mitchell1stsgt Glenn BrackinSgt Jim Belanus TSgt David L. TSgt Joe C. MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi PO1 David M Burns Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Kim Patterson
FYI Col Carl Whicker Sgt (Join to see) AB (Join to see)SSgt Marian Mitchell1stsgt Glenn BrackinSgt Jim Belanus TSgt David L. TSgt Joe C. MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi PO1 David M Burns Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Kim Patterson
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Sgt Jim Belanus
The only mail call I had was in basic, other than that is was a po box at the post office. By the way, my uncle is a retired tech sgt and he was in the mail room for a while
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I had a very memorable mail call while in boot camp at Paris Island in the summer of ‘77. The normal platoon mail call would see us standing at attention on line in the squad bay while one of our drill instructors stood at the end near the “DI hut” and called out your name. When your name was called you’d yell out “here sir” and sprint to the DI and stand at attention going through the PVT so and so reporting for mail call routine. This one particular mail call, my name wasn’t called, but right after all the mail had been handed out, the senior DI, SSGT Kemper, told me to report to the DI hut. When I reported, he showed me a large envelope, obviously containing some magazines, that was addressed to me. The return address, which I’ll never forget, was Brucie Gay, 69 Cornhole Way, Out of the Closet, FL. When I saw that I was petrified and my mind raced thinking who could have sent me the package. SSGT Kemper asked me if I knew the sender, and I answered “Hell no sir!” He proceeded to rip it open to find it held three issues of Playgirl Magazine with a short note from my best friend from high school saying enjoy the magazines with some hand drawn laughing smiley faces. My SDI asked if I now knew who sent it and I told him my buddy from high school trying to be funny. I was ready to spend some quality time in the rose garden, but was happily surprised when he just told to go back out and get on line. When I went home on leave after boot camp, I made it a point to go by my buddy’s house and give him a good punch in the sternum...
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend Cpl Thomas Winch and responding and sharing "the memorable mail call while in boot camp at Paris Island in the summer of ‘77." I expect your heartbeat increased as you reported to the Drill Instructor hut to SSGT Kemper.
A large envelope containing magazines with a return address of Brucie Gay, 69 Cornhole Way, Out of the Closet, FL sent your memory racing. "three issues of Playgirl Magazine with a short note from my best friend from high school saying enjoy the magazines with some hand drawn laughing smiley faces.' I am not surprised you took some "revenge" on your best friend when you took leave :-)
FYI FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)SPC Margaret HigginsSP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-Cwik TSgt David L.Maj Robert Thornton SGT Philip RoncariCWO3 Dennis M. SFC William Farrell
A large envelope containing magazines with a return address of Brucie Gay, 69 Cornhole Way, Out of the Closet, FL sent your memory racing. "three issues of Playgirl Magazine with a short note from my best friend from high school saying enjoy the magazines with some hand drawn laughing smiley faces.' I am not surprised you took some "revenge" on your best friend when you took leave :-)
FYI FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)SPC Margaret HigginsSP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-Cwik TSgt David L.Maj Robert Thornton SGT Philip RoncariCWO3 Dennis M. SFC William Farrell
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More then a decade ago i was deployed over seas as a SPC and was assigned as the mail handler for our attachment that was placed on a US Air Force post inside the host countries air force base. The Post had a post office that i would go to every day and help sort the mail then took my units mail back to our tent and handed it out or left it on each soldiers bunk. there was only 19 of us.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SSG Roland Starr for responding and making us aware that "a decade ago [you were] deployed over seas as a SPC and was assigned as the mail handler for [your] attachment that was placed on a US Air Force post inside the host countries air force base." "The Post had a post office that [you] would go to every day and help sort the mail then took [your] units mail back to our tent and handed it out or left it on each soldiers bunk." there were only 19 of you stationed there.
FYI SSG Michael Noll SSG William Jones SSG Robert Mark Odom MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi TSgt David L. SGT (Join to see) TSgt Joe C.
FYI SSG Michael Noll SSG William Jones SSG Robert Mark Odom MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi TSgt David L. SGT (Join to see) TSgt Joe C.
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GySgt Thomas Vick
I know the hard work that you guys did, and thank every one of you, you kept everbodies day bright.
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I remember mail call. Most of the time my name was never called. I had an Honor Flight in October 208. On the flight back to Las Vegas after about an hour into the flight, the leaders of flight began passing out envelopes making it seem like it was mail call time. That will be one of the things I will never forget. Letters were written to me from adults and children most of which I did know know. Some came from family and friends. It was a crying time for most of us. The saddest part of my flight back is that we lost 2 people. One was civilian and the other was one of us. This was all within 20 minutes over Colorado. Back to now. Two weeks ago I received a "care package" from home. The usual was in inside, cookies,etc.. It does seem people that don't know us will write to us in the cars package. I am happily thankful for my military family. And this includes all you on Rally Point.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SGM Gerald Fife for responding and sharing your memories of the Honor Flight in October 2008 to Washington, D.C. I expect. I am glad that on the return flight to Las Vegas, " the leaders of flight began passing out envelopes making it seem like it was mail call time. That will be one of the things [you] will never forget. Letters were written to [you] from adults and children most of which I did know know. Some came from family and friends." it certainly was sad that two people died in the 20 minutes of mail distribution over Colorado.
I am glad that you received a "care package" from home with the usual inside, cookies, etc.
I am thankful that after receiving very mail at mail call long ago, you are receiving care packages and mail now
FYI MSG Felipe De Leon Brown SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick CSM Charles Hayden CSM (Join to see) CSM Michael Poll CSM Michael J. Uhlig COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas
I am glad that you received a "care package" from home with the usual inside, cookies, etc.
I am thankful that after receiving very mail at mail call long ago, you are receiving care packages and mail now
FYI MSG Felipe De Leon Brown SMSgt Lawrence McCarter GySgt Thomas Vick CSM Charles Hayden CSM (Join to see) CSM Michael Poll CSM Michael J. Uhlig COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas
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LTC Ford, I recall an incident during BCT in 1980 at Ft. Leonard Wood. Our Drill Sgt would have us perform push-ups for every word written on the envelope. A buddy of mine who went there a year before knew this unofficial policy and sent me a letter. The envelope had a one word message “gotcha”. He wrote the entire letter on the envelope! I did push-ups until it felt like my arms would fall off!
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MAJ John Vertido for responding and making us aware that a 'buddy of yours who went through BCT in 1979 decided to write his entire letter on the envelope knowing you would do a pushup for every letter.
I went though BCT at Fort Leonard Wood in 3rd Training Regiment [D-1-3] from November 1974 to January 1975. At that point we had to do 'cut-away' - going from a standing parade rest to front leaning rest - bouncing off our chin. I still have a scar on my chin :-)
Image: 1975-03 FT Leonard Wood, MO - view of D-1-3 barracks where I did Basic Training
FYI SGT Forrest FitzrandolphCWO3 Dave AlcantaraCW3 Matt HutchasonLTC (Join to see)Sgt John H.PVT Mark ZehnerSPC Robert Gilhuly1sg-dan-capri COL Mikel J. Burroughs SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT Gerald Palen
SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSFC David XantenPFC Jose EscobarSFC (Join to see)SGT Mark Anderson
I went though BCT at Fort Leonard Wood in 3rd Training Regiment [D-1-3] from November 1974 to January 1975. At that point we had to do 'cut-away' - going from a standing parade rest to front leaning rest - bouncing off our chin. I still have a scar on my chin :-)
Image: 1975-03 FT Leonard Wood, MO - view of D-1-3 barracks where I did Basic Training
FYI SGT Forrest FitzrandolphCWO3 Dave AlcantaraCW3 Matt HutchasonLTC (Join to see)Sgt John H.PVT Mark ZehnerSPC Robert Gilhuly1sg-dan-capri COL Mikel J. Burroughs SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT Gerald Palen
SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSFC David XantenPFC Jose EscobarSFC (Join to see)SGT Mark Anderson
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LTC Stephen F.
I hope you each are enjoying a peaceful Sunday
FYI CW4 Craig UrbanPO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrPVT Kenneth Krause SPC Jon O.MAJ Raúl RoviraSP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-CwikTSgt David L.PO1 Robert GeorgeSGT John Melvin1SG John FairclothSN Donald HoffmanSSG Robert Mark Odom
SP5 Jesse EngelSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthSPC Nancy GreeneSSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn Brackin
FYI CW4 Craig UrbanPO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrPVT Kenneth Krause SPC Jon O.MAJ Raúl RoviraSP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-CwikTSgt David L.PO1 Robert GeorgeSGT John Melvin1SG John FairclothSN Donald HoffmanSSG Robert Mark Odom
SP5 Jesse EngelSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthSPC Nancy GreeneSSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn Brackin
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We got a few mail call's at NTC rotations and when I was in Iraq in 2003 and 2005. Sometimes, we would do so much moving or would be on patrols and when we got back from our base for refit and repairs, there would be a stack of mail and packages in our bunks or in some instance we would be able to hit our mail clerks during the 48 hours, before we went back out.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SSG Jeff Beltran for responding and making us aware that you remember mail call at National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California rotations as well as when you were deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2005 as part of OIF.
I hope all the mail you received was in good condition and you never received any bad news in mail call.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT Rick ColburnSgt Vance BondsSGT Mark Halmrast Maj Robert ThorntonSSgt Brian Brakke SGT Brent ScottPO2 Rick Fox
PO1 H Gene LawrenceSGT James MurphyPVT Karl GoodeSFC Francisco Rosario1SG James MatthewsLTC Stephan PorterLCpl Donald FaucettCPT (Join to see)Sgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)cmsgt-rickey-denicke
I hope all the mail you received was in good condition and you never received any bad news in mail call.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT Rick ColburnSgt Vance BondsSGT Mark Halmrast Maj Robert ThorntonSSgt Brian Brakke SGT Brent ScottPO2 Rick Fox
PO1 H Gene LawrenceSGT James MurphyPVT Karl GoodeSFC Francisco Rosario1SG James MatthewsLTC Stephan PorterLCpl Donald FaucettCPT (Join to see)Sgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)cmsgt-rickey-denicke
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SSG Jeff Beltran
LTC Stephen Ford, Thanks again. Other than the snail mail process, mail was always good. I forgot to mention the M.A.R.S ticker tape mail we got in Kuwait, before OIF kicked off, when we were in NY Kabal for last Operation Desert Spring ODS. :D
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Mid-80's.
Basic, yes. We dropped and gave 20 for letters; care packages were opened and shared.
At Bragg, mail came through chain of command and handed to us by squad leader.
Mail was a big deal.
Basic, yes. We dropped and gave 20 for letters; care packages were opened and shared.
At Bragg, mail came through chain of command and handed to us by squad leader.
Mail was a big deal.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SGT Mark Halmrast for responding and making us aware that mail call was a big deal for you and that in BCT in the mid-1980's you had to drop and do 20 pushups per letter and involuntarily 'sharing' care packages. Thanks as well for making us aware that when you were stationed at Fort Bragg "mail came through chain of command and handed to us by squad leader."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT (Join to see) Col Carl Whicker LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SGT Jim Arnold SGT Steve McFarland CPT Paul Whitmer SSG Franklin Briant SSG Robert Mark Odom PO1 Robert George SMSgt Lawrence McCarter MSgt David Hoffman SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SPC Margaret Higgins SPC Woody Bullard SPC Nancy Greene
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT (Join to see) Col Carl Whicker LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SGT Jim Arnold SGT Steve McFarland CPT Paul Whitmer SSG Franklin Briant SSG Robert Mark Odom PO1 Robert George SMSgt Lawrence McCarter MSgt David Hoffman SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SPC Margaret Higgins SPC Woody Bullard SPC Nancy Greene
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LTC Stephen F.
Belated thank you MCPO Roger Collins for responding and letting us know that you only had mail call in boot camp.
FYI PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr LTJG Robert M. PO3 (Join to see) PO2 Jonathan Scharff LCDR (Join to see) CMC Robert Young PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard BruceSgt Jay JonesCWO3 (Join to see) GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia Sgt (Join to see) 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 PO1 John Johnson LTJG Richard BruceSgt Jay JonesCWO3 (Join to see) GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia Sgt (Join to see) SSgt Terry P. Sgt David G Duchesneau LT John Chang LTJG Josh Thaxton CWO3 Dennis M. CMDCM Gene Treants
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MSgt William Harper for responding and sharing the downside of receiving care packages from home. Mandatory sharing is a military oxymoron that most of us experienced :-)
FYI MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SGT Jim Arnold LTC (Join to see) 1SG Michael Blount SSG(P) (Join to see) LTC Charles T Dalbec SGM Mikel Dawson SGT Forrest Stewart SPC Margaret Higgins SGT (Join to see) SGT Philip Roncari @Sgt Jim
FYI MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SGT Jim Arnold LTC (Join to see) 1SG Michael Blount SSG(P) (Join to see) LTC Charles T Dalbec SGM Mikel Dawson SGT Forrest Stewart SPC Margaret Higgins SGT (Join to see) SGT Philip Roncari @Sgt Jim
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SSG Roland Starr
I always asked family to put extra things in my Care Package for that very reason of sharing. Things like slim jims, A&W root beer candies.
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