Posted on Jul 15, 2015
Who remembers standing in formation for mail call? Does the military still conduct mail call?
235K
8.9K
1.29K
632
632
0
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
2
2
0
I remember sitting in the day room and getting mail. I was in BMT over Christmas and New Year. My sister sent me a Christmas package and my flight was on restriction so no one from my flight was able to share the goodies I received. My sister sent me two dozen rum balls underneath dozens of chocolate chip cookies. Sadly, I was the only girl in my flight who got to enjoy the goodies. I’m still amazed I didn’t get caught!
(2)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend and sister-in-Christ MSgt Dee Ann P. for responding and letting us know you "remember sitting in the day room and getting mail. I was in BMT over Christmas and New Year. My sister sent me a Christmas package and my flight was on restriction so no one from my flight was able to share the goodies I received. My sister sent me two dozen rum balls underneath dozens of chocolate chip cookies. Sadly, I was the only girl in my flight who got to enjoy the goodies. I’m still amazed I didn’t get caught!"
Hopefully the staute of limitations on this violation has passed long ago :-)
Hopefully the staute of limitations on this violation has passed long ago :-)
(1)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend and sister-in-Christ MSgt Dee Ann P. for responding and letting us know you "remember sitting in the day room and getting mail. I was in BMT over Christmas and New Year. My sister sent me a Christmas package and my flight was on restriction so no one from my flight was able to share the goodies I received. My sister sent me two dozen rum balls underneath dozens of chocolate chip cookies. Sadly, I was the only girl in my flight who got to enjoy the goodies. I’m still amazed I didn’t get caught!"
Hopefully the staute of limitations on this violation has passed long ago :-)
Hopefully the staute of limitations on this violation has passed long ago :-)
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
LTC Stephen F.
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 (HVAC Recruiter)
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 (HVAC Recruiter)
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
2
2
0
LTC Stephen F.
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
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
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...
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
It kills me that back then our full SSN had to be under our name. I still have some letters.
(2)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Yes, I remember this. Today we all get emails so I guess they will throw computers at you instead of envelopes...
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
This is a pretty old post -- However, I do recall mail call... The last time I recall it was in the preassignment center (Charger Academy) for the 196th Infantry Brigade in Vietnam. The mail clerk found great amusement in calling Specialist Darling's name -- DARLING RICHARD!
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
As an enlisted Marine I looked forward to MAIL CALL. That connection to home was important. After my commissioning, I was assigned additional duties as a junior officer for the unit while serving overseas. One such position was Postal Officer. Realizing how important MAIL CALL was to moral,
I took these duties very serious. I appointed squared away Marines to assist me and monitored the daily event to ensure all went well. It was always a pleasure to see MARINES react to getting mail, magazines and newspapers from home. Semper Fi to all of my fellow Veterans. Be safe, be smart and be strong.
I took these duties very serious. I appointed squared away Marines to assist me and monitored the daily event to ensure all went well. It was always a pleasure to see MARINES react to getting mail, magazines and newspapers from home. Semper Fi to all of my fellow Veterans. Be safe, be smart and be strong.
(1)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend Capt Rory Fitzgerald for responding and letting us know that as an enlisted Marine you looked forward to mail call and 'that connection to home was important.' Thanks as well for letting us know that you served as a postal officer realizing how mail call was important to morale.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google