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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Troops
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 377
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I also remember doing mail call for my basic trainees. It was a point of the day where things could get a little bit "enjoyable" as I pitched out the mail and solicited an occasional comment from a trainee about the perfume on his letter, or some odd thing about where the mail came from. Of course we also had to check out any pictures to ensure they were authorized for the trainee to have during basic training or else lock them up in the personal storage room until they graduated. And naturally that got some comments from the other trainees (lots of catcalls and whistles). I do hope that little bit never goes away....
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MSgt Matt Hancock for responding and making us aware that whne you were a USAF training NCO for USAF airmen you 'remember doing mail call for my basic trainees. It was a point of the day where things could get a little bit "enjoyable" as I pitched out the mail and solicited an occasional comment from a trainee about the perfume on his letter, or some odd thing about where the mail came from.'
FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SMSgt Thor Merich SMSgt Mark Venzeio SMSgt Tom Burns SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas SMSgt David A Asbury CWO3 Dave Alcantara MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SSgt Kelly D. SSgt (Join to see) SSgt Boyd Herrst SSgt Terry P. SSgt Marian Mitchell
FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SMSgt Thor Merich SMSgt Mark Venzeio SMSgt Tom Burns SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas SMSgt David A Asbury CWO3 Dave Alcantara MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SSgt Kelly D. SSgt (Join to see) SSgt Boyd Herrst SSgt Terry P. SSgt Marian Mitchell
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I remember quite well standing in formation for mail call while in BCT and AIT at Ft Jackson in 1966 and in OCS at Ft Benning in 1967. There were no such formalities at Ft Bragg in 1967 or in Vietnam in 1967-‘68. The mail clerk would deliver it to my quarters at Ft Bragg or walk among us in Vietnam. It was always a special occasion because it frequently brought perfumed letters from my wife and care packages from my parents. (Even though my wife at the time didn’t deliberately perfume her letters, I could still catch the faint scent of her hand lotion on the paper, even after traveling 10,000 miles over four days from her parents’ home in Edinburg Scotland.)
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend 1LT Voyle Smith for making us aware that you well remember mail call and later the mail clerk bringing the mail. "standing in formation for mail call while in BCT and AIT at Ft Jackson in 1966 and in OCS at Ft Benning in 1967. There were no such formalities at Ft Bragg in 1967 or in Vietnam in 1967-‘68. The mail clerk would deliver it to my quarters at Ft Bragg or walk among us in Vietnam.'
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LTC Stephen F.
THank you my friend SFC Randy Hellenbrand for responing and making us aware that you well remember mail call and you were very happy when a care package came - especillay if you did not have to volunteer to share the contents.
FYI SPC Woody Bullard SPC Michael Oles SR SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland 1LT Voyle Smith LTC David Brown COL Lisandro Murphy MSgt Dale Johnson Maj Robert Thornton MGySgt (Join to see) PVT Mark Brown CSM Bruce Trego PO3 Lynn Spalding Sgt John H. SSG Franklin Briant SGT (Join to see) 1LT Peter Duston
FYI SPC Woody Bullard SPC Michael Oles SR SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland 1LT Voyle Smith LTC David Brown COL Lisandro Murphy MSgt Dale Johnson Maj Robert Thornton MGySgt (Join to see) PVT Mark Brown CSM Bruce Trego PO3 Lynn Spalding Sgt John H. SSG Franklin Briant SGT (Join to see) 1LT Peter Duston
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I remember mail call like it was yesterday.
In BCT, AIT, OCS, Ft Bragg and Vietnam, mail call was a very big event. Letters from home were the most important and the pogey bait I received in Care Packages every week were fantastic. My Grandma baked cookies and brownies and my Dad spent every Saturday morning, standing in line at the local post office. They meant the world to me. I always shared them with others, and sometimes they were broken into little pieces after spending most of a week in transit, but no one complained.
In BCT, AIT, OCS, Ft Bragg and Vietnam, mail call was a very big event. Letters from home were the most important and the pogey bait I received in Care Packages every week were fantastic. My Grandma baked cookies and brownies and my Dad spent every Saturday morning, standing in line at the local post office. They meant the world to me. I always shared them with others, and sometimes they were broken into little pieces after spending most of a week in transit, but no one complained.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend 1LT Voyle Smith for responding and making us aware that you 'remember mail call like it was yesterday' in 'BCT, AIT, OCS, Ft Bragg and Vietnam, mail call was a very big event.'
I am glad to learn your [paternal] grandma baked cookies and brownies and your "Dad spent every Saturday morning, standing in line at the local post office."
FYI SSG Bill McCoySGT Herbert BollumMSgt James Clark-RosaSGT (Join to see)PO3 Scot StClairSMSgt Mark Venzeio1st Lt Padre Dave PoedelSPC Darnella Thompson1sg Jason HastingsMGySgt (Join to see)GySgt Jack WallaceSFC Ralph E KelleyCPT (Join to see)MSG (Join to see)SSgt Kelly D.CPO Arthur WeinbergerMSgt Dale JohnsonCPT Gurinder (Gene) RanaSGT Mary G.
I am glad to learn your [paternal] grandma baked cookies and brownies and your "Dad spent every Saturday morning, standing in line at the local post office."
FYI SSG Bill McCoySGT Herbert BollumMSgt James Clark-RosaSGT (Join to see)PO3 Scot StClairSMSgt Mark Venzeio1st Lt Padre Dave PoedelSPC Darnella Thompson1sg Jason HastingsMGySgt (Join to see)GySgt Jack WallaceSFC Ralph E KelleyCPT (Join to see)MSG (Join to see)SSgt Kelly D.CPO Arthur WeinbergerMSgt Dale JohnsonCPT Gurinder (Gene) RanaSGT Mary G.
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Every duty day at the end of the day I conducted mail call with my flight of trainees. I recall a number of note written on envelops and packages written to embarrass the trainee or to get a response from the Instructor. One package in particular contained illegal drugs which had been flagged by the police. When that package was handed to the trainee he was immediately arrested. The person or persons mailing the package were also apprehended. So many memories from 1974 to 1985.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend MSgt Don Dobbs for responding and letting me know that when you were a Military Training Instructor (MTI) at Lackland Air Force Base from 1974-1975 that you "conducted mail call with my flight of trainees. I recall a number of note written on envelops and packages written to embarrass the trainee or to get a response from the Instructor. One package in particular contained illegal drugs which had been flagged by the police. When that package was handed to the trainee he was immediately arrested. The person or persons mailing the package were also apprehended."
FYI SSgt Joseph Baptist TSgt Dennis L Bubla Capt Christian D. Orr CMSgt (Join to see) Sgt Vance Bonds TSgt Dennis L Bubla MSgt Raymond Hickey SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SrA John Monette TSgt Ronald White SrA Ronald Moore
FYI SSgt Joseph Baptist TSgt Dennis L Bubla Capt Christian D. Orr CMSgt (Join to see) Sgt Vance Bonds TSgt Dennis L Bubla MSgt Raymond Hickey SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SrA John Monette TSgt Ronald White SrA Ronald Moore
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend PO2 Mike Vignapiano for responding and letting me know that "Whenever we pulled into a port, we would have mail call."
FYI PO1 Howard Barnes PO3 Edward Riddle PO1 John Miller PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO1 Kevin Dougherty CWO3 Dennis M. PO2 Tom BelcherFN Randy Bohlke PO2 Cyrus Barberia PO1 Tony Holland PO3 Ellsworth Allen Westgate CPO Nate S. PO1 Angela (Gibbs) Reterstorf PO1 Jeff Chandler CWO4 Terrence Clark CPO Tim Dickey MCPO Mark Durland
FYI PO1 Howard Barnes PO3 Edward Riddle PO1 John Miller PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO1 Kevin Dougherty CWO3 Dennis M. PO2 Tom BelcherFN Randy Bohlke PO2 Cyrus Barberia PO1 Tony Holland PO3 Ellsworth Allen Westgate CPO Nate S. PO1 Angela (Gibbs) Reterstorf PO1 Jeff Chandler CWO4 Terrence Clark CPO Tim Dickey MCPO Mark Durland
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I remember mail call in basic and AIT, I dreaded packages but loved the letters from home. And of course, the obligatory, "WHICH BELL?" at both because there were 5 Bells in my BCT company, 2 in my platoon, and 2 in my AIT company, which did mail call as a company. Once I got to permanent party, everyone had post-office-style mailboxes so we could get our mail after work instead of taking up time during the duty day (and having multiple people knowing who was getting mail from who).
It was interesting when my ex deployed for OIF 1 and the mailroom tried to make him forward his mail to Iraq and he refused since there was nothing that needed to go to him instead of me at home. Took them a minute to process that he was a married Soldier who didn't get mail at the company, so it didn't need to be forwarded. Then he had to wait 1-3 days for mail sent to Iraq to be passed out by his platoon sgt, who had to go out to multiple locations to drop it off with each team - so I made a habit of sending several packages at the same time to reduce the number of trips to his location each month.
It was interesting when my ex deployed for OIF 1 and the mailroom tried to make him forward his mail to Iraq and he refused since there was nothing that needed to go to him instead of me at home. Took them a minute to process that he was a married Soldier who didn't get mail at the company, so it didn't need to be forwarded. Then he had to wait 1-3 days for mail sent to Iraq to be passed out by his platoon sgt, who had to go out to multiple locations to drop it off with each team - so I made a habit of sending several packages at the same time to reduce the number of trips to his location each month.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SPC (Join to see) for responding and letting us know that you 'remember mail call in basic and AIT' and you dreaded packages but loved the letters from home.
I have know severel service members with last name Bell and many more with last name Smith who may well have had similar experiences as yours
FYI CPT Barbara SmithMaj Bill Smith, Ph.D.SFC Bruce SmithSSG (Join to see)SrA Ellie SmithSFC George SmithCDR (Join to see)SSG Larry SmithMSG (Join to see)CPO Scott Smith SSG Trevor S. SFC (Join to see)1LT Voyle Smith MAJ Mark Smith
I have know severel service members with last name Bell and many more with last name Smith who may well have had similar experiences as yours
FYI CPT Barbara SmithMaj Bill Smith, Ph.D.SFC Bruce SmithSSG (Join to see)SrA Ellie SmithSFC George SmithCDR (Join to see)SSG Larry SmithMSG (Join to see)CPO Scott Smith SSG Trevor S. SFC (Join to see)1LT Voyle Smith MAJ Mark Smith
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The military has changed so much. What we did during our careers will always be different compared what is currently being utilized.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SFC Floyd Anchetafor responding and sharing your thoughts. Like you, I enjoyed reading mail - email and texts may be well-received - especially if they contain useful information that is worth saving in whatever medium is used
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SGT(P) (Join to see) for responding and letting me know you did mail call every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday overseas.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SPC James Ward for responding and letting me know you remember mail call.
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