On September 16, 1940, the Selective Service Act was enacted by President Roosevelt. The Selective Service Act was the first peacetime conscription act in the United States, and it required men between the ages of 21-36 years of age to register with local draft boards. Later when World War II began, the ages were extended to include 18-65 years of age.
Seven mass registrations were conducted by civilian authorities in response to the Presidential proclamation. Once this was put in place, men went out to their local boards to register for the draft. They were interviewed by the registrars who then filled out the Draft Registration Cards based on the registrant's answers. That was the first step. These cards are now available for viewing on a few different websites including Ancestry, Fold3, and Family Search. Most everyone in the genealogy community is familiar with these cards and has even found their ancestors in these databases. But did you know there were a couple other cards that were filled out and were required to be kept with the registrants at all times?
Recently, I was going through my grandma's house collecting what I could before the house was sold when I came across a metal lockbox with a whole bunch of documents inside. Documents that included Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates along with other important papers. I'd hit the genealogy jackpot! One item that specifically caught my attention was this "Notice of Classification" card that was in my Grandpa Les's wallet. I'd never seen this before. I assumed it was just a draft card that he had received when he registered for the draft in World War II, but the date on this card was AFTER he had already completed his service. Hmmm... Many questions started to form.
After much searching on the internet, I understood more what this was, why he would have it, and what he was also supposed to carry with it. To understand, let's start at the beginning with the Draft Registration. Grandpa Les Wheeler would have been required to appear before the local board for registration. The process is explained in the Selective Service Regulations:
Turns out they even had different colored cards depending on your date of birth. Never knew that before. I have done some research to learn more about the different colors used, but there is nothing available specifically about this. So moving on. Everything would be filled out on this Card (also known as Form 1) except for the Serial Number and Order number. This would come later. But this is what the form would have looked like all completed.
Once the information has been verified, and the card signed by the Registrant, they are done right? No! How would someone be able to prove that he had in fact registered? I'm glad you asked. Turns out a Registration Certificate was issued to verify that you had indeed registered for the draft.
Now, I didn't find this Registration Certificate (Form 2) in my Grandma's files, but there are many examples online. I found this wonderful blog called Rooted in Elizabeth where the blogger shares her Grandfather's cards and information. Check out Liz's blog here:
https://rootedinelizabeth.blogspot.com/2018/05/wallace-b-dixon-wwii-deferment.html
But what about the Notice of Classification card? Where did that come from? Upon further inspection in the Selective Service Regulations book, there was a whole section explaining the Classification process (which I am not going to go into right now). But it does explain where they came from.
The rest of the mystery is solved by looking at the bottom of the Notice of Classification card. It states:
"The law requires you, subject to heavy penalty for violation, to have this notice, in addition to your Registration Certificate (Form 2), in your personal possession at all times--to exhibit it upon request to authorized officials--to surrender it upon entering the armed forces, to your commanding officer."
Ok, so when he entered the Army, he would have surrendered his original Notice of Classification Card (Form 57). Then when he was discharged from the army on June 10, 1944, a new card (the one I currently have) was issued so he could present it to any authorized officials if necessary. As Kronk would say from Emperor's New Groove, "Oh yeah, it's all coming together."
I really wasn't planning on falling down the rabbit hole as far as I did, but sometimes you gotta fall to come back up with the answers. Now I know what this card was for and why my grandpa had it with him. I also have my grandpa's Enlistment Record along with his Discharge Certificate. These may not even be available at the National Archives because of the fire that occurred in 1973. So I am definitely blessed to have them. Below these documents is a picture of my grandpa in his Uniform. He was definitely a handsome man. No wonder my grandma fell for him.
To close this blog out, I'm going to share a video I found on YouTube. It's a video called, "Introduction To The US Army 1944-Induction of Soldiers Film." Thought this would be a great closer. Definitely an interesting video. Do you have any original documents from your ancestor's service in World War II?
Sources:
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Training_and_Service_Act_of_1940
Selective Service System - https://www.sss.gov/history-and-records/
Selective Service Regulations: September 23, 1940 to February 1, 1942 on
Google Books - https://www.google.com/books/edition/Selective_Service_Regulations/r924AAAAIAAJ?gbpv=1
*Note: This particular book has been amended, so some of the regulations are different; the amendments are in the back of this book; there is an updated version of this book here.
Rooted in Elizabeth Blog - https://rootedinelizabeth.blogspot.com/
So informative. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome!
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