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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Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 376
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LTC Stephen F. - Mail Call was the highlight of many-a-days! If someone got a picture of their girl, it went directly to the "Hog Board." "Dear John" letters were posted here as well. If someone got a "Care Package," it was opened and promptly shared (by direction) with the platoon. Often, the intended recipient was left with an empty box. Also, we made a point to share our mail with those who didn't get any. It was a great way to get to know your shipmates! There was always the challenge of reading letter in the order in which they were written --had to open 'em in order of post-dates. Great memories!
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend Capt Mark Strobl for responding and letting us know that mail call was "highlight of many-a-days! If someone got a picture of their girl, it went directly to the "Hog Board." "Dear John" letters were posted here as well. If someone got a "Care Package," it was opened and promptly shared (by direction) with the platoon."
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We still had mail call (at the company mail room) when I was stationed in Germany in the early 90's. Since then, it has only occurred during deployments.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks for the update 1SG (Join to see). I am not surprised that mail call is still used on deployments.
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LTC Stephen F.
SGT Forrest Stewart, when you remember mail call do you remember the good times when you received letters you were expecting or surprise letters that had good news?
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SPC Mark Brown
LTC Stephen F. - Hell No! I vividly remember only one letter, it devastated me to the max. It was a huge dear john letter, a real kick in the nuts. I got drunk and tore up our hooch. Luckily the battery commander did not call the MPs and he did not give me an Article 15, which I really deserved.
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To be fair, I've only been stationed in the states, on shore so far so I can't really speak for ship life, but I do recall in boot camp, mail call was one of the most exciting things. Waiting to hear your name for what seemed like hours. Now with recruits getting tablets, I can only hope they still only do mail as opposed to email or texts, because there is something special about opening a letter and reading a friend's or family member's handwriting.
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LTC Stephen F.
I concur wholeheartedly with you PO2 (Join to see) that having a letter that you can read and re-read, smell sometimes when it is from a girlfriend or spouse - hopefully not at the same time :-) - is so much better than reading an email or text message.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SGT Jeremiah B. for letting us know that you had mail call in OSUT and once you were assigned to your unit, you went to the mail-room to get your mail.
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When I was stationed in Germany pay call was with mail call. Our pay checks came in the mail. I remember one time our company had soldiers AWOL that would turn themselves in the day before checks came. They would get there checks from the mail room the go AWOL again.
2nd Battalion 13th Infantry, 8th ID. Coleman Barracks. Mannheim GE. 1974-1977
2nd Battalion 13th Infantry, 8th ID. Coleman Barracks. Mannheim GE. 1974-1977
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MAJ Van Chase for responding a few weeks ago and letting us know that for your unit in Germany mail call and pay call coincided since your pay checks were delivered in the mail at 2/13 Infantry Coleman Barracks, Mannheim.
The fact that AWOL soldiers turned themselves in the day before payday to be paid only to go AWOL again sounds like a keystone cops episode or Three Stooges.
FYI MSgt David Hoffman LTC John Shaw Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SSG Franklin Briant SPC (Join to see) TSgt David L. Maj Marty Hogan SPC Margaret Higgins SGM Mikel Dawson SGM Gerald Fife Col Carl Whicker LTC Greg Henning
The fact that AWOL soldiers turned themselves in the day before payday to be paid only to go AWOL again sounds like a keystone cops episode or Three Stooges.
FYI MSgt David Hoffman LTC John Shaw Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SSG Franklin Briant SPC (Join to see) TSgt David L. Maj Marty Hogan SPC Margaret Higgins SGM Mikel Dawson SGM Gerald Fife Col Carl Whicker LTC Greg Henning
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MAJ Van Chase
The interesting part of the story is that our unit was on maneuvers. So these AWOL soldiers turned themselves into the rear detachment. Believe me it only happened once.LTC Stephen F.
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MSgt Gilbert Jones
MSgt Gilbert Jones - Maj Chase, you lost me, did I comment about a check? If I did, you will have to forgive me - 82 years old and sometimes I kind of forget.
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I am a 66-yr old RN, civilian, the widow of my dear Air Force Retired E-8 husband for the last 20 years. And I have to say how important letter writing was to us back in the 60's and 70's, during isolated tours and TDY's. We had a total of 23 wonderful years and 3 children together, which never would have happened without those love letters. I met Richard (Dick) whenI was 15 1/2 at our roller rink near his base. Then he went for a year isolated to Thailand and we wrote letters each day of that year and fell in love through them. Luckily when he returned he got a base near the previous one and were able to see each other often. After I graduated high school, we continued dating and allowed me to finish a two-year RN program, graduated, took the nursing boards and married the following weekend. Now I am still without him physically but will always have him in my heart and in the letters I will read and reread.
In clearing my 94 y.o. mother's house to sell and have her move in with me, we came across her and Dad's love letters from the 1940's / 50's. He was also AF, a retired Major. We used to all write letters and wait for weekly MARS station calls with pre-arranged times. Such wonderful memories!!!
Thanks for reading!
Alene (Patty) Gauthier, RN
Bradenton, FL 34209
In clearing my 94 y.o. mother's house to sell and have her move in with me, we came across her and Dad's love letters from the 1940's / 50's. He was also AF, a retired Major. We used to all write letters and wait for weekly MARS station calls with pre-arranged times. Such wonderful memories!!!
Thanks for reading!
Alene (Patty) Gauthier, RN
Bradenton, FL 34209
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you Patty Gauthier Af Widow for responding and making us aware that you are the widow [for twenty years] of your "dear Air Force Retired E-8 husband" Richard Gauthier who you first met while in high school at a roller rink. I am glad to learn that you and he were able to exchange letters while he was deployed to Thailand in the 1960's and in the 1970's "during isolated tours and TDY's."
I am glad that you were able to finish a two-year RN program and graduate while you two dated and married [in the late 1970's I expect] and had 3 children together during your 23 years of marriage.
I expect it was wonderful to come across the love letters your Army Air Corps/USAF Major father sent to your mother and hers to him during the 1940's and 1950's.
Thank you as well for making us aware that you and your siblings "used to all write letters and wait for weekly MARS station calls with pre-arranged times."
I hope and pray that you and each of your grown children are doing well and keeping up correspondence.
FYI Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM Maj Kim Patterson Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Col Carl Whicker SGT Philip Roncari MSgt David Hoffman LTC Wayne Brandon Sgt (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SPC Nancy Greene Sgt Kelli Mays SSG William Jones CPT Paul Whitmer Sgt Jackie Julius SGT Steve McFarland Sgt John H.
I am glad that you were able to finish a two-year RN program and graduate while you two dated and married [in the late 1970's I expect] and had 3 children together during your 23 years of marriage.
I expect it was wonderful to come across the love letters your Army Air Corps/USAF Major father sent to your mother and hers to him during the 1940's and 1950's.
Thank you as well for making us aware that you and your siblings "used to all write letters and wait for weekly MARS station calls with pre-arranged times."
I hope and pray that you and each of your grown children are doing well and keeping up correspondence.
FYI Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM Maj Kim Patterson Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Col Carl Whicker SGT Philip Roncari MSgt David Hoffman LTC Wayne Brandon Sgt (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SPC Nancy Greene Sgt Kelli Mays SSG William Jones CPT Paul Whitmer Sgt Jackie Julius SGT Steve McFarland Sgt John H.
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI SP5 Jeannie Carle SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik SPC Diana D. SSG Diane R. LTC Hillary Luton Maj Kim Patterson ~875754:SFC Mary Beaver] SGT Elizabeth S SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" MSG Andrew White 1SG Steven Imerman MAJ Rene De La Rosa TSgt David L. SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C.Sgt Albert CastroSGT (Join to see) SPC Woody Bullard
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Af Widow
Thank you for your comments! I love reading the various topics on this site. Connection to the military has been very important in my life. I absolutely loved the life!
Patty Gauthier
Patty Gauthier
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