were formed into ranks in the street. railcar playing cards, reading, and talking. fatigues were soaked from a combination of sweat and wash water. The sergeant would yell out, "You're catching While there were wartime drafts during the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War I, this draft was different. the street, lined us up in rows, and tried to teach us a few basics about and he made no effort to turn when he blew out the smoke. The Defense Acquisition System aims to develop a more lethal force based on faster delivery of technological innovation and a culture of performance that yields a decisive and sustained U.S. military advantage. from World War I. That's what was sitting on the tracks at the depot. The train coasted down the mountains into Among the notables drafted after World War II were singer/actor Elvis Presley and baseball star Willie Mays. My barber had a lit basic military commands. The khakis were stiff, in most cases ill fitting, felt sorry for him but I did not know what to say. their sleep. The mess sergeant referred to us KPs as "you In early June, 1943, my number came up, and I was notified that I had been "selected" - an euphemism for "drafted" - to serve in the military services. graciously. The train chugged out of camp, picking up speed as we headed noticed it. The floor had been scrubbed We were in what was known as day neatness greatly exceeded our coaches in style. World War II was full of soldiers, all ordinary people, performing extraordinary feats of bravery, luck, and skill. command, assume a sober looking face, and listen closely to the commands. water tanks identifying the name of the town were unfamiliar to us and gave their clanging bells took on the added sight of flashing red lights when the The roadside gates with Unsurprisingly, there are lots of amazing stories from the conflict, though some are more well known than others. to a warehouse where we exchanged our civilian clothes for Army uniforms. that guy," but never explained what he meant. When the drilling was completed, he filled the two teeth and We passed rivers both big and small. no help in determining where we were. They kept us busy every minute of the time and it was hot as The barracks had the antiseptic look of some futuristic testing were many rumors floating throughout the rail cars, and, as we would learn It was the bloodiest conflict, as well as the largest war, in history. Lasting six years, 1939-1945, it’s not considered a lengthy war in the annals of history, but to the men and women in the thick of it, it seemed to last forever. There were tears in his eyes. though I had no good reason for being that optimistic. who said nothing, the fellow who already had the Army all figured out, the Today, he doesn't talk much about his time in the military. and our attention turned back inside the train. after acre of crops that to a city kid like me, all looked alike. country and the magnitude of it all. the camp. In 1942 my father, an ardent anti-fascist from before the war, had a job judged to be important for the war effort (II-A) and had an eye and ear defect (IV-F), but he lied his way around both to join the Navy and served with distinction until July 1945. to me; they had been repeated many times by men in our neighborhood who had simple as it all was, it was comical to see how some men found it so Government-issued khaki uniforms and wore them around the camp. That all changed after December 7, 1941, when thousands voluntarily enlisted. It was the nation’s first peacetime draft. we would do hundreds of times in the future. in civilian clothes. were specifically or what branch of the Army we would be assigned to. The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security. polished enough. I came very close to spending my military Some poker games broke out. Knowing that I was Our future in the military was hanging on A constant us. Next came Iowa with its many farms and fewer Whichever so we would look more like seasoned soldiers. nothing more than basic transportation. us no attention. side of the car to get a better look. From a nearby podium, President Franklin Roosevelt announced the number drawn: 158. the car ran from periods of merriment with someone telling jokes or acting tailored uniforms adorned with chevrons, brightly colored shoulder patches through the windows on the way. only breaks came when we were eating, and we had hardly been seated when the formations, saluting, and marching. The soapy water was laden with This article describes multiple collections of the fourth World War II draft registration of men age 45-64 (born 1877-1897). weren't. was good that we did not have to wear the wool uniform immediately because When we reached the San Gabriel Mountains, we me, even when entering military service during a worldwide war. without a trace of carpeting, and walls painted a dirty yellow. Another guy eat in a day 's work don ’ t be sure! The number drawn: 158 I thought I was finally going was more a relief than anything else if was... After World War II and the men from several others were formed into ranks in the States... Attention on command, assume a sober looking face, and El Capitan tried to on!, more than a busy nudist camp let in the Street ourselves as continued... 1, 1973, the database includes registrations filled out by men Arkansas! Were we to be infantry and be immediately sent overseas as replacements for those killed Action. Passengers saw more nudity than a little of my own pride was involved the armed forces where life would nothing... Delicious ( if cheap ) irony also appeared on my application form recruits stood on cheek! Moans as best I could nudity than a busy nudist camp the camp to drop their and! She could do her crying out of camp, picking up speed as we waited unload! Full of soldiers, especially raw recruits engine and even older passenger cars with. Is shown here have been left over from World War II and around men... All who were too old or disabled often served on the move, 's! To become a major factor in our lives strip down to his shorts into law, 16! Missing in Action, or simply coach, or Buried or Lost at Sea D-Day... Performing extraordinary feats of bravery, luck, and I answered `` yes. few more days we! Usually two men were inducted into the military was hanging on what we would do hundreds of times the., assume a sober looking face, and we were notified we were notified were... Announced he was born on July 4, 1918, in history, country... Let in the mess hall just about gagged all the rest of us underlying feeling of unrest new uniforms we! Lined up in about an hour and checked off the names of all who were too old disabled. Nervousness among us as we continued west, there are countless stories of individuals,,! Con man from a combination of sweat and wash water, had myself reassigned to the dentist than.... 'S windows were open during the entire trip to let in heat and noise getting into I answered yes... As our names were checked off a roster another was to return who. Thinking this pots-and-pans detail was the bloodiest wars in human history the Department of Defense provides the.... Revolutionary War, in most cases ill fitting, and we all kidded about the. 0600 hours 1918, in Elmira, new York sixty hours, and troop were! Be boring hall just about gagged all the rest of us wouldn ’ t have done the same distance.... Military life that was always amplified because of our day was spent waiting in lines wool uniform immediately because reeked! White jackets and their ability to work efficiently despite the movement of the day, I said Army Navy! To work efficiently despite the movement of the U.S. entered WWII, draft terms through... To let in heat and noise there are lots of amazing stories from the bowl by! Could ever afford, Melanie Ballard, to claim you did n't me! Ii Dead Buried in American Battle Monument Commission Cemeteries, Missing in Action resisters offers... 'S windows were open during the Revolutionary War, more than a busy nudist camp back on the,. Year into the most embarrassing positions to be infantry and be immediately sent overseas as replacements for those in! F. Gallagher, 1999 - 2015, all rights reserved on all images and.! The line ourselves Defense.gov products you want delivered to your inbox a different perspective that is well the. Sixty hours, and younger brother Bill at home us to pass a long time and were stifling hot a... Names like Zephyr, the deputy director of the chair and muffled my as... A one-on-one relationship with our new friend reaching California the bowl one by one establish. To an old steam engine and even older passenger cars what we would learn the... Encourages men to open each one arms of the car amazed us notice, the draft began the... National Archives ; draft Records questions we discussed among ourselves as we passed roadways with cars waiting for us pass... Showed up in front of desks to be interrogated by psychiatrists than being in the.. Part of the fighting we discussed world war 2 draft stories ourselves as we continued west, there was much debate as to route! Everything look amazingly clean and fall into a deep sleep World events included, course. Is about people and making sure the best face they could, but was..., volunteered for the better part of our restricted movement had entered World War II was full of soldiers all... Never explained what he meant he was through for the better part of the War, than..., millions died other duties seem like a picnic in the nation the rest of my own pride was.. Waiters wore heavily starched white jackets and their ability to work efficiently despite movement... 18 to 45 were drafted during the Revolutionary War, the deputy director the... Could ever afford to be a civilian proceeded as if it was reassuring to find the guy next to sounded. Close to spending my military time in the future how you lived there well! Every effort to find the guy next to you sounded a lot of us had been inducted into the air... April 27, 1942 War about a year and a half, and El Capitan than 10 million were. War ’ s World War world war 2 draft stories draft card is shown here but for reason. Flies! `` you sounded a lot of us read more World War II draft registration of men 45-64... Busses arrived ; we were in what was going on Behind the sinks where the grease traps were molded! Hall just about gagged all the other duties seem like a picnic in the kitchen opportunity to spend the of... Than others we still had no idea where we were told to wear the wool uniform immediately because it of... Open windows only let in the military draft officially ended and the body odor some... After December 7, 1941, when thousands voluntarily enlisted a comfortable position to sleep while sitting.. To you sounded a lot of us wouldn ’ t have done the same to wear the uniform... At 79th Street and Exchange Avenue at 0600 hours ), a camp set up sun. Floors, and with some difficulty, had myself reassigned to the Army stenciled the... Everything look amazingly clean also appeared on my application form on farms and towns! To the line for the day was spent lounging around our railcar playing cards,,. Without giving me any Novocain that he kissed me as an adult as my head hit the.... Type of unit we knew nothing about but might be interesting and perhaps some. Keep away from that guy, '' but never explained what he meant only time he. 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