Posted on Jul 15, 2015
LTC Stephen F.
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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
Edited 4 y ago
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Responses: 377
SPC Carlton Phelps
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My, then-girlfriend, would write a letter every day, so at mail call, my name was called so many times the other guys started to rib me.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
Thank you my friend SPC Carlton Phelps for responding and letting us know that your girl friend [at the time] wrote a letter to you every day. I am not surprised that as your name was called at mail call, your fellow trainees started to rib you.
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SSG Ken Potts
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Mail call is still done overseas and when deployed.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
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Thank you my Vietnam War medic friend SSG Ken Potts for responding and making us aware that mail call is still done overseas [in some areas] and when deployed.
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PO2 Matthew Schroer
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In my unit, we had to send someone to get the mail. Most were working or sleeping. In my turns, I put everything in the paper slots or pigeonholed packages. No real mail call, outside of passing the word "mail call".
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
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Thank you my friend PO2 Matthew Schroer for making us aware that in your US Navy unit, each sailor took turns to get the mail [since most were working or sleeping] Was the mail collecting duty on a duty roster of sorts?
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PO2 Matthew Schroer
PO2 Matthew Schroer
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LTC Stephen F. - We usually had someone designated but I believe that there were alternates.
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MSgt Janice Trojan
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Mail call. Had friend Mike Brogan that wrote me letters of support in basic. I had to read his aloud everyone loved them funny. Wish ai could have saved them.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
Thank you my friend MSgt Janice Trojan for sharing a wonderful mail call experience. I am glad that your friend Mike Brogan wrote letters of support to you in basic. " I had to read his aloud everyone loved them funny." I am sad to learn that you did not save those letters. In any event I am glad to learn that you great memories of mail call.
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MSgt Janice Trojan
MSgt Janice Trojan
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I kinda believe I couldn't. Seemed like we had items we came with and were stored. I don't remember not having packrat piles of stuff (which I am quite capable of). SSG Brogan was a hoot!
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SGT Juan Robledo
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Yes, I remember like yesterday, and remember calling home from Korea using Radio Call, the guy would be monitoring our conversation and at times remind me to say over, I tell my wife I love you over, she would have to do the same, crazy times, but I still remember real well
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
Thank you my friend SGT Juan Robledo for responding and and making us aware that you remember mail call 'like yesterday' and calling home while you were stationed in South Korea using Radio Call and the monitor would be listening to your conversation who reminded you "to say over, I tell my wife I love you over, she would have to do the same, crazy times, but I still remember real well'
I am glad to learn that you wonderful memories of mail call.
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CH (MAJ) Eric Dye
CH (MAJ) Eric Dye
2 y
Interesting. When I was stationed in Berlin Germany we would call home on an Autovon line to a military post or station near home. Then, the operator of the system would dial the local number for my family and I would talk to them for free. It was great though it meant waking up in the middle of the night to make the call. I actually stopped watching NFL football at the same time as it came on in the wee hours of the morning; so I stopped watching and never got back into the habit again. Sure freed up my time on Sundays for other activities.
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1LT Voyle Smith
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I remember mail call. It was the most important event of the day. To get letters from loved ones, care packages from my parents, Christmas cards from sister’s two daughters and their entire classes in elementary school, Valentines also from their entire classes, meant the world to me. I answered each card or letter, often writing by candlelight late at night. If care packages contained crumbled chocolate chip cookies, I didn’t care, I passed the box of crumbs around anyway and no one else cared, either. Mail call was great!
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SPC Maurice Evans
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I have a good story but it would have to be personal and it is long
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
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Thank you my friend and brother-in-Christ SPC Maurice Evans for responding. If you review the responses you will see have already shared personal stories and some are long.
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SFC Charlie Broadus II
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Only mail call I had was in basic
Now all the barracks have there own mail boxes and a mail clerk
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
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Thank you my friend SFC Charlie Broadus II for making me aware that you only had mail call in basic training [and perhaps track vehicle maintenance AIT?]
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SFC Charlie Broadus II
SFC Charlie Broadus II
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LTC Stephen F. - yeah AIT also forgot about that it was a lifetime ago
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SSG Retired
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Only mail call was in basic training after that we went to the mail room
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
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Thank you my friend and brother-in-Christ SSG (Join to see) for making me aware that you only had mail call in basic training [and perhaps AIT] after at permanent party stations you went to the mail room.
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CDR Jim M.
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Yes, I remember one mail call in particular. I got a small box. Two weeks in the postal process. Brownies!! Crumbles basically. Shared with my squad. We ate them using a spoon, a mouthful at a time. I still remember how it tasted and the comradeship of sharing what we had. A squad can finish a small box of brownies in two bites but my brothers and I celebrated a good day.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
Thank you CDR Jim M. for responding and making us aware that you have wonderful memories of mail call call - especially when you received a small box in two weeks of postal processing. 'Brownies!! Crumbles basically. Shared with my squad. We ate them using a spoon, a mouthful at a time. [I am thankful that you still] 'remember how it tasted and the comradeship of sharing what we had. A squad can finish a small box of brownies in two bites but my brothers and I celebrated a good day.'
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