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
Communications
Military History
Troops
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
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We were out in the field this one time and we had mail call. The 1Sgt was calling us out. He called out Hernandez. Hernandez had not come out to the field with us. So the 1Sgt called out Hernandez again. Still no one replied. So the 1Sgt says "God damn it Hernandez, I knows you out there!" Of course for fear of questioning Top, we all kept our mouths shut. So he begins to spell it out, "H-E-N-R-I-K-S-O-N, Hernandez!" Henrikson, of course wanting his mail speaks up. "That's Henrikson 1sgt." Top replies, "God damn you Hernandez, get out here and get your mail!" To which Henrikson replies, "Yes 1Sgt!" Nobody said anything at the time for fear of insubordination, but we all got a pretty good chuckle out of it afterwards.
Ah, the good old days!
Ah, the good old days!
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TSgt Ken Vandevoort
Capt (Join to see) -My first name was called out instead of my last name. My brother was in the same flight. He was also called out by his first name. We had one guy with a last name the TI couldn't pronounce, so he became "Smeeth".
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SGM (Join to see)
I think you mean 1SG (First Sergeant) Army terms. I was a Senior Drill Sergeant i Basic at FLW and someone tried to mail a brass from the range. It came back insufficient postage. He got 14/14.
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Sgt Carl Fairbank
I remember that at mail call my training instructor in basic training call out my name and looked closer at the mail. Then exclaiming that it was my draft notice. Everyone laughed their asses off. My mom forward it to me.
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SP6 Richard Kellar
The men who carried that mail too you in combat zones should have gotten your cigarettes for the day. That my friend was dangerous.
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PVT Mark Whitcomb
my brother was in the corps over 20 years. he retired right before 9/11. Many are his tales from being in.
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LCpl (Join to see)
PVT Mark Whitcomb - If your brother is still vertical, Give him a Semper Fi for all Marines monitoring this post, and thank you both for your service.....George out.
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SGM (Join to see)
Reporting for pay then going to American Express to convert to German Marks was a norm in FRG 76 79
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John Michael Montgomery - Letters From Home (Official Music Video)
You're watching the official music video for John Michael Montgomery's "Letters From Home" from the album 'Letters From Home' (2004).John Michael Montgomery...
One of my favorite country song involves mail call.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIG9C3n-SPc
SGM Steve Wettstein LT Brad McInnis LTC John Griscom PO1 John Johnson Maj William W. 'Bill' PriceSPC Nancy Greene SSG Michael Noll CMSgt Steve Pennington LTC Ken Connolly SGT Ed Matyjasik PO2 (Join to see) CSM Chuck Stafford SGT Robert Pryor SGT Herbert Bollum SFC (Join to see) Cpl Vic Burk SPC Terry Page SSG (Join to see) LTC Dave Leppanen COL Lisandro Murphy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIG9C3n-SPc
SGM Steve Wettstein LT Brad McInnis LTC John Griscom PO1 John Johnson Maj William W. 'Bill' PriceSPC Nancy Greene SSG Michael Noll CMSgt Steve Pennington LTC Ken Connolly SGT Ed Matyjasik PO2 (Join to see) CSM Chuck Stafford SGT Robert Pryor SGT Herbert Bollum SFC (Join to see) Cpl Vic Burk SPC Terry Page SSG (Join to see) LTC Dave Leppanen COL Lisandro Murphy
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SGT Wayne Smith
Thanks for posting this video. I hadn't heard it in a long time. It brought back many memories from long, long ago and far, far away. It also brought a few tears.......
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Klieta Bagwell
I was a member of Soldiers' Angels during Desert Storm and the Iraq war. One of the Soldiers I wrote to (stores about my farm life and crazy animals) told me everyone in his unit, could not wait till mail call to read my next letter. When he got got home, he told me everyone of those letters were carried in a soldier's pocket, and they got them through some bad times. When it got really bad, during a lull, someone would tell from memory one of their favorite stories about a goat with his head stuck in the fence or the pony running off with my fencing tools.
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CW4 Phillip C Petrie
That’s a great song. I remember mail call and also pay call when everyone lined and 1SG handed out your pay in cash.
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1SG Lashawn Brown
Thank you. I am a combat Veteran and this is the first time I heard this song, definitely brought tears to my eyes and memories.
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LTC Stephen F. There is something very special about standing in a group of soldiers and hearing your name called out to go forward and receive that piece of heaven and having everyone's eyes on you as you received it - especially the wanting eyes of those waiting for a letter. Was also great when I reached the front of the pay line, standing at attention, saluting, giving Dawson, Mikel W, SSN.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Man, the memories. My old home town newspaper came out only once a week, and my platoon became fans of it. I wrote about that memory on another thread. I got one letter from my girl back home...three years after we split...and it hammered at my heart. Mail call...Loved it.
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LCpl (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F. - Mail call for sure. As for PC, where are you going to spend it? In the FMF, you may be on a ship for weeks, or in a jungle for no telling how long. Then again, MAYBE THATS A GOOD THING.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend and brother-in-Christ LCpl (Join to see) for responding and sharing you memories.
FYI here is my parallel question
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
FYI here is my parallel question
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-remembers-pay-call-what-country-ies-did-you-receive-pay-call-in
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I remember mail call and having to stand in line to receive our paychecks. I remember once, at a payday, two women showed up. One was the soldier's wife and the other his mistress. I shouldn't have to tell you what happened next, but more MPs we're brought in to quell the situation
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SSG Michael McCalla
Nothing like seeing the SWAK (if you know you know. If you don't ask somebody...LOL) on those envelopes especially the lips.
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Stephen I remember during my last trip over, I had access to SATPhone, email, some times a regular phone but there was nothing like getting a letter from home. I did not want an expensive card, just a hand written note. I remember reading the letters and thinking I could almost hear her voice, and see her smiling as she was telling what was in the letter. Emails and phones are cool but a simple piece of paper with your thoughts on it is the best. I have had some letters that I have read kept in a pocket and would re-read whenever I could.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks my friend LTC Jeff Shearer for sharing that even with 21st century technology receiving a physical letter was such a welcome occurrence.
Written letters can be reread without electricity functioning :-)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSG Dan Walther MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl Craig Marton SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
Written letters can be reread without electricity functioning :-)
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSG Dan Walther MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl Craig Marton SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
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A1C Alexa Cosson
I still have a letter that my son's dad sent me when I was in Basic. It's in my son's baby book! So special. You can't do that with a text.
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LTC Stephen F. I remember it well in Basic Training and AIT (1975) and then you just received if from your platoon or section on a daily basis once you got to your permanent party.
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Wayne Soares
Sir: I’ve interviewed many vets from WWII To Current and they tell me Mail Call was the most important part of their week
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Oh Mail Call. The Platoon Sgt would read the "to" line, call your name, and the individual would repeat his name, break ranks, sprint to the front, and try to grab the mail from the Platoon Sgt's hand. God be with the man who actually touched the Gunny's hand! After snatching your item, you'd return to ranks. Letters would be stuffed in cargo pockets until "free time" --so, we read our letters at night (by a flashlight) or while seated in the head. E-mail, I-phones, and PDA's hadn't been invented at that time. It was pure entertainment --or better put, a nice break from the training schedule.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks Capt Mark Strobl for your eloquent response which brings back many memories for many of us. It seems that Mail Call in the USMC and US Army were very similar as well opening and reading letters by flashlight at night.
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Cpl Gabriel F.
Not so much in boot camp. The drill was lots of P.T. bends and thrust jumping up and running to use both hands to clamp the mailed item without touching the Drill Instructor and racing back to the P.T. position. Observed the Drill Instructor lock up the recruit at attention on the way in. There were markings on the outside of the letter. One was a peace sign from the recruits girl. "Well maggot know where this came from ? Sir, yes sir. Like what she writes ? Sir, yes sir. No need for reading correct maggot ? Sir, yes sir. Then eat it NOW ! The letter was eaten. One of many mail call days.
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LTC Stephen F. my BCT was last year, it is recent yet, I hated Sunday and Mondays nights because usually I didn't get anything. I remember waiting after lights were off to read my letters and cry in silence. Those were good times!
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Actually they were tears of joy, my wife wrote me every single day. Because of the family separation, one gets emotional and anything could be a trigger for start crying. She wrote me about everything, I miss her so much but we are better now than we've ever been. LTC Stephen F.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks form sharing the good news SGT(P) (Join to see). Staying in touch and communications are very important in building a marriage. I prefer letters which can be read over and over again to most other forms of communication.
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MCPO Roger Collins
The Fleet Post Office was really good. I'd like to see the USPS try to keep up with a couple hundred moving targets.
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SGT James Searle
PO3 Bob McCord - You make a very good point in mentioning the other side of the transaction: When cleaning out my mother's house after she died, we discovered that she'd kept not only all of the letters that my dad sent to her while he was island-hopping in the Pacific during WWII but also all of the letters that my brother and I had sent to her when we were both serving overseas nearly thirty years later. (Needless to say, that good woman was a great wife and mom.)
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Ah yes, I remember it well. My favorite mail call was in BCT when the Sergeant read the return address on an envelope addressed to me = "SooHoo!" - when I received the letter from a Chinese gir I had dated once before enlisting.
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LTC Stephen F.
SooHoo sounds like a word that Dr Seuss would use in one of his colorful books CPT Jack Durish, Somehow I can imagine very colorful language from the Drill Sergeant who read out "SooHoo!" in the mail call formation :-)
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SPC William Weedman
When I was in basic, my brother wrote me a letter and addressed the envelope in pencil. After I did push-ups for the mail (10 per letter received) I also did 10 for my brother addressing the letter in pencil. Once I was done my Drill Sgt. handed me a Skillcraft and told me to include the pen in my reply to him.
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CPT Robert Boshears
On ships, the new guys were sent to the highest part of the ship to pull mail buoy watch. While they went up to the bridge to report for duty, you would call the Officer Of The Deck. He would give the new guy field glasses and send him to the very top. It made sense to the “boot” that mail would be on a buoy. Funny thing was, there was no such thing. Small ships/boats had to go from Yankee Station, Vietnam to the Philippines (or during ammo or food unreps). Carriers had planes that brought mail nearly every other day. You also never went for a bucket of steam or a BT punch... where a large Boiler Tender would punch you.
Long periods of boredom with short periods of sheer terror. Oh, relative bearing grease was another good one. But, mail was very important for morale... unless it was an all too frequent “Dear John”... which one man got one and jumped into the 4 screws (propellers)... 10,500 Ship Horsepower... it looked like a strawberry milkshake. In the Army, I was the S-1... we had frequent mail call.
Long periods of boredom with short periods of sheer terror. Oh, relative bearing grease was another good one. But, mail was very important for morale... unless it was an all too frequent “Dear John”... which one man got one and jumped into the 4 screws (propellers)... 10,500 Ship Horsepower... it looked like a strawberry milkshake. In the Army, I was the S-1... we had frequent mail call.
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SSG Phillip Hoffeld
SPC William Weedman - LOL!! I got a letter from my girlfriend and had to do pushups because she didn't spray it with perfume. Nowadays, you "request permission to recover." Back then it was, "That was FUN, Drill Sergeant! Private Hoffeld requests permission to do ten more!" When the Drill Sergeant was happy(If ever), you had to jump up to attention and scream, "Thank you, Drill Sergeant for conditioning my body and stimulating my mind!"
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