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 >1 y ago
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Responses: 376
1SG Paul Ayotte
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I remember waiting for pay!
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
3 y
Thank you my fellow infantryman and brother-in-Christ 1SG Paul Ayotte for responding and letting us know you remember mail call as well as pay call. I hope your memories of mail call are happy [for the most part]

Here is a link to my who remembers pay call question. "Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in?"
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
FYI PVT (Join to see)PO3 Laura Lee Sutherland
[1890812:SPC Gary Symons]MSG Daniel TalleySFC Gerald ThomasSgt Gary ThompsonMSgt Janice TrojanSSG Robert VernonSSG (Join to see)SFC Jason WerstackSGT Charles WhitedMAJ Wayne WickizerSGT Gerald “Jerry” HarrellMSgt Dee Ann P.PO3 Richard T.SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.DMaj Jan WilsonSSG(P) (Join to see)MSgt Guillermo Ybarra III
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1SG Steven Borts
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yes
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
3 y
Thank you my fellow infantryman friend 1SG Steven Borts for responding.
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SSG Peter Larson
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Call to colors, Mail call, pay call, work call, chow call and retreat.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
3 y
Thank you my friend SSG Peter Larson for responding and letting us know that you remember the Bugle Call to colors, Mail call, pay call, bugle work call, bugle chow call and bugle retreat.

Who remembers pay call? What country(ies) did you receive pay call in?
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
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SSG Peter Larson
SSG Peter Larson
3 y
State Side and Korea
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SPC Military Police
2
2
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It kills me that back then our full SSN had to be under our name. I still have some letters.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
3 y
Thank you my friend and sister-in-Christ SPC (Join to see) for responding and letting us know that you full social security number had to be under your name.
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SFC Andre Davis
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I also remember pay call and pay day activities. In the deuce (82nd abn div) we would march up to the bowling alley and wait on the mps and armor trucks to come. Then we go in and we're asked govt green backs, cash or travelers checks. But 1st you had to sound of like you had a pair, Name, rank and last 4. Good old days, back then your unit was your family, top took care of you, but respect was the word, and you showed it everyday, those guys would give thier life for you, we lived by everyone comes home, no man left behind living or dead.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
4 mo
Thank you for responding SFC Andre Davis
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SGT Signal Support Systems Specialist
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Oh, this isan awesome question!!! I remember the last formation of the day was mail call and for the 1st and 15th, if you didn't have direct deposit, you would be handed a hard check for your pay.
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1SG James Kelly
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Yes
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1SG James Kelly
1SG James Kelly
2 y
Hell, I was the mail clerk.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
4 mo
Thank you for responding 1SG James Kelly
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SSG James Stodola
1
1
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Yes, I remember this. Today we all get emails so I guess they will throw computers at you instead of envelopes...
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PO2 W Scott Decker
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In the '80s in Guantanamo Bay Cuba at the Anti-Aircraft Warfare Center I was a Mail Petty Officer, had a bad habit of volunteering, because I got bored easy.
It turned out to be a pretty good gig, everybody always looked out for, was waiting on and taking care of the Mail guy.
We had like an old-fashioned post office at our command with little mailboxes with keys and everything. I was the only one that had a key to the man door that entered the back. So if you got a package you had to track me down.
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SFC Bruce Glover
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I remember mail call very well. Once in BCT I received a letter from my senator who happened to be a family friend. The DS was calling out return addresses. When he got to mine, he had a very strange look on his face and called my name instead of the return address. I got strange looks from all the company Cadre for days. Don't know what they thought the letter was, and I never told them. It was just a letter from my senator congratulating me for joining the Army.
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