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
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Military History
Troops
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend LTC Reginald Brown for making us aware that you well-remember mail call.
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Yes. I do remember mail call. I would say about six months later, it went away and you walked into the orderly room during hours to get your mail. Yep…..
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend PO1 William Van Syckle for responding and letting us know that you experienced mail call and served during the transition from mail call to postal operations from the post-office military postal-clerks.
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Summer of 1983, Basic Training at Ft Knox. Mail call in formation. Always felt good to hear your name called.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you friend SFC Eddy Meador for responding and letting us know that you enjoyed hearing your name called at basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky in the summer of 1983.
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I was a BCT 1Sg and can confirm - we ALWAYS had mail call. There were three things you couldn't deny privates and mail was one
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend 1SG Michael Blount for responding and lettiing us know that mail call was something that everyone appreciated for all ranks.
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When I was in the Marines in the 1970's and 1980's we had formations for both mail call and pay call because we still received Government Checks twice a month. Semper Fi
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend Sgt James McFarland for responding and making us aware that while you were an active duty Marine " the 1970's and 1980's we had formations for both mail call and pay call because we still received Government Checks twice a month."
FYI GySgt Thomas Vick MGySgt (Join to see) GySgt Jack Wallace GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia Sgt (Join to see) SSgt Robert Marx GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" MGySgt Michael P. McNeal, MBA Cpl Casey Meyer Sgt James Morse LCpl Thomas Osmon SSgt Terry P. GySgt H.E. (Trey) Salmon III Cpl Samuel Pope Sr
FYI GySgt Thomas Vick MGySgt (Join to see) GySgt Jack Wallace GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia Sgt (Join to see) SSgt Robert Marx GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" MGySgt Michael P. McNeal, MBA Cpl Casey Meyer Sgt James Morse LCpl Thomas Osmon SSgt Terry P. GySgt H.E. (Trey) Salmon III Cpl Samuel Pope Sr
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Ah the good old days, I remember delivering the mail at USMA and standing in formation in Germany to get the mail:)
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my fellow USMA graduate CPT Endre Barath for responding and letting us know that you delivered mail at USMA in your plebe year [1973-1974] and standing in formation in Germany to get the mail.
FYI COL Richard Bassett CPT Kevin McComasLTC Victor Badami CPT Ronald BeebeCPT Hannibal Bray MAJ Michael BresslerLTC John Brown COL Rene BurgessLTC Jim Burke
LTC Eric Campany MAJ Gregory ChuraLTC Tom Domino LTC Dave DuffyCPT Erik Eriksen
FYI COL Richard Bassett CPT Kevin McComasLTC Victor Badami CPT Ronald BeebeCPT Hannibal Bray MAJ Michael BresslerLTC John Brown COL Rene BurgessLTC Jim Burke
LTC Eric Campany MAJ Gregory ChuraLTC Tom Domino LTC Dave DuffyCPT Erik Eriksen
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SPC Tommy Dean for letting us know that you remember mail call at Fort Knox in 63T AIT. and BCT prior to that.
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I remember basic 66-67 where assistant DI or whatever he was (buck sgt) took our mail, called our names, and letter by letter tossed onto the grass. We were not allowed to be on the grass. He did however allow us to step on items to get our mail. He amused himself as people removed field jacket, etc. to step on to get to the mail. A real dick.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you SP5 James Elmore for making us aware that you remember assistant DI or whatever he was (buck sgt) in Basic combat training 1966-1967 who took your "mail, called your names, and letter by letter tossed onto the grass. We were not allowed to be on the grass. He did however allow us to step on items to get our mail. He amused himself as people removed field jacket, etc. to step on to get to the mail. A real dick.'
FYI SGM Mikel Dawson SGM Gerald Fife SSG Edward Tilton SGT Philip Roncari SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SSG Robert Ricci 1LT Voyle SmithPO3 Lynn Spalding SSG Bill McCoyLTC (Join to see)
FYI SGM Mikel Dawson SGM Gerald Fife SSG Edward Tilton SGT Philip Roncari SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D SSG Robert Ricci 1LT Voyle SmithPO3 Lynn Spalding SSG Bill McCoyLTC (Join to see)
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SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
To bad someone didn't knock him out and use him as a stepping stone (just kidding I wouldn't want anyone locked up for insubordination). Not a way to gain respect, but shows how insecure he was in his ability to be a leader.
66-67, send him to a "combat" unit in Vietnam for a year and maybe he would appreciate his brothers a little more.
66-67, send him to a "combat" unit in Vietnam for a year and maybe he would appreciate his brothers a little more.
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In fact, I was the Mail PO in boot camp until I decided I would rather be on the drill team
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend PO2 S.J. Carroll for making us aware that you were in the Mail Postal Officer [PO2] in boot camp until you decided you would rather be on the drill team.
FYI PO2 (Join to see) PO1 Robert George PO1 John Miller PO3 Steven Sherrill PO1 Jeff ChandlerPO1 Sam Deel CPO Nate S.
FYI PO2 (Join to see) PO1 Robert George PO1 John Miller PO3 Steven Sherrill PO1 Jeff ChandlerPO1 Sam Deel CPO Nate S.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SFC Mark Wiggins for letting us know that you well remember mail call and reporting for pay.
There is another question I posted years ago focused on pay call
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
There is another question I posted years ago focused on pay call
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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