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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Korea in '64 we gathered around the front of the company HQ quonset for mail call when in garrison. When we were up on the zone we got our mail when we went down the hill for chow.
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LTC Stephen F.
Belated thank you CPT Jim Schwebach for responding and letting us know that in 1964 in South Korea you "gathered around the front of the company HQ quonset for mail call when in garrison. When we were up on the zone we got our mail when we went down the hill for chow."
FYI SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik LTC Jeff Shearer LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. TSgt David L.PO1 Robert George
SGT John Melvin1SG John FairclothSSG Robert Mark OdomSP5 Jesse EngelSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthCapt Rich BuckleyCW4 G.L. Smith
SPC Russ BoltonSFC Terry WilcoxPO2 Roger Lafarlette
SPC Nancy GreeneSSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn Brackin
FYI SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik LTC Jeff Shearer LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. TSgt David L.PO1 Robert George
SGT John Melvin1SG John FairclothSSG Robert Mark OdomSP5 Jesse EngelSPC Matthew LambSSG Robert "Rob" WentworthCapt Rich BuckleyCW4 G.L. Smith
SPC Russ BoltonSFC Terry WilcoxPO2 Roger Lafarlette
SPC Nancy GreeneSSG Franklin Briant1stsgt Glenn Brackin
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI Sgt Jackie JuliusJennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill
SP6 Stephen RogersonSSgt Corwin WhickerCPT Paul Whitmer1SG Steven ImermanSSG Samuel Kermon
SP5 Geoffrey VannersonCol Casey "Radio" G.SFC John Lich
SP6 Stephen RogersonSSgt Corwin WhickerCPT Paul Whitmer1SG Steven ImermanSSG Samuel Kermon
SP5 Geoffrey VannersonCol Casey "Radio" G.SFC John Lich
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In basic. When you're deployed kind of. S1 would sometimes bring packages around. In garrison no. If you live in the barracks you better catch the mail clerk at the times posted or you won't be getting your package was my experience. Otherwise we had mail boxes.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks for providing an update to us on the current distribution of mail SFC (Join to see) "In basic. When you're deployed kind of. S1 would sometimes bring packages around. In garrison no. If you live in the barracks you better catch the mail clerk at the times posted or you won't be getting your package was my experience. Otherwise we had mail boxes."
FYI SP5 Jeannie Carle SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik SPC Diana D. SSG Diane R. LTC Hillary Luton Maj Kim Patterson Sgt Kelli Mays SFC (Join to see) SGT Elizabeth S SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" MSG Andrew White SSG(P) (Join to see) 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ Rene De La Rosa TSgt David L.
FYI SP5 Jeannie Carle SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik SPC Diana D. SSG Diane R. LTC Hillary Luton Maj Kim Patterson Sgt Kelli Mays SFC (Join to see) SGT Elizabeth S SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" MSG Andrew White SSG(P) (Join to see) 1SG Steven Imerman COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ Rene De La Rosa TSgt David L.
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SP5 Jeannie Carle
I never had a box. When I hit Ft Ord, we went to the window and asked for our mail. In So Korea - SOMEtimes they found you - for me it was usually on Arms Room Guard, and brought it to you.
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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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PVT 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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