The draft

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Hardy, George Enlisting as an Aviation Cadet
George Hardy's father persuaded him to not join his brother in the Navy because of the race problem. He would be...
Colburn, George Enlisting in the Marine Corps
On 11 July 1944, George Colburn and two others went into the Federal building in Boston [Annotator's Note: Boston,...
Harris, Oran Enlistment and Heading Overseas
Oran Harris was 17 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was returning from Sunday school when a man called out...
Weller, James Enlistment and Normandy
James Weller picked the Army for enlistment because his father had served in World War I in a submarine. The submarine...
Ruiz, Roberto Enlistment and Training
When the draft began in 1942, everyone from the ages 17 and a half to 35 years old had to sign up. Roberto "Bob” Ruiz...
Myrick, Thomas Enlistment and Training
Perhaps because Barksdale Air Force Base was in his hometown of Bossier City, Louisiana, Thomas Myrick followed...
Hanson, Wilfred Enlistment in the Marine Corps
Wilfred Hanson always admired the Marine Corps, and figured if he had to go to war, he wanted to go with a group of men...
Alaniz, George Enlistment to Attu
George Alaniz is from New Mexico. He was there when the draft started, and he decided to volunteer for the Army for one...
Davis, Jackson Enlistment to Pearl Harbor
Jackson Davis went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to practice law. The Draft Act [Annotator's Note: Selective Training and...
Claus, Courtland Enlistment to VE-Day
Courtland Claus remembers his cousin dropped by for a military visit. The radio was on in the next room over. They...
Ramsey, Frank Entering Service
Frank Ramsey wanted to be in the Army Air Corps. His uncle had served in the First World War [Annotator's Note: World...
Bodson, Henry Entering Service
Henry Bodson went to West Point [Annotator's Note: United States Military Academy in West Point, New York]. It was a...
Cervantes, Enrique "Henry" Entering Service
Enrique Cervantes felt the urge to join the war effort after the United States' entry into the conflict. His older...
Riedl, Edward Entering Service
Edward Riedl was waiting for his girlfriend to come out of her house when he was told Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note:...
Field, Edward Entering the military and Becoming a Poet
Edward Field entered the military to escape his background and the oppression of anti-Semitism. It was wonderful and...
Riddle, Clinton "Clint" Entering the Service
Clinton E. Riddle was born in Loudon County, Tennessee in February 1921. He was the only child in his family and grew...
Ramsey, Frank Entrance into Service
Frank Ramsey was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia. He was born in March 1925. His father worked in real...
Reilly, Joseph Entrance into Service
Joseph Dean Reilly had a deferment [Annotator's Note: postponement of military service] because he was working for a...
Barnes, Otis Entrance into Service
Otis Barnes was born in Texas. He grew up when times were tight. His father was able to raise vegetables. Times were...
Rice, Rip Entrance into Service
Rip Rice was born in New York City, New York in April 1924. His family was in the restaurant business in lower...
Donovan, Robert Entrance into Service
Robert L. Donovan did not want to be in the infantry. He was working at the Goodrich Company when he learned that the...
Offenbacher, Robert Entrance into Service
Robert Offenbacher was born in Lima, Ohio in September 1922. He had five brothers. He was a twin and one brother was...
Camp, Ray Entrance into Service
Ray Camp was born in December 1924 in Friendship, Tennessee. He lived there on a farm until he got drafted. He received...
Clark, Merrill Entrance into Service
Merrill J. Clark grew up in Chicago, Illinois. His father was employed during the Depression [Annotator's Note: Great...
Britt, James Entrance into Service
James Britt was born in Asheville, North Carolina in March 1914. His mother worked in a bank. His father served in...
Asher, Adolph Entrance into Service
Adolph Edward Asher was born March 1916 in New Orleans [Annotator's Note: New Orleans, Louisiana]. During the...
Boeke, Robert Entrance into Service
Robert Boeke and his classmates talked about the war in social studies class. He sang in the boys' choir. They started...
Lopez, Lionel Entrance into Service
Lionel Lopez was born in New Orleans [Annotator’s Note: New Orleans, Louisiana] in August 1921. He went to Catholic...
Lopez, Lionel Entrance into Service
Lionel Lopez was born in New Orleans [Annotator’s Note: New Orleans, Louisiana] in August 1921. He is 84 years old. He...
Smith, Clifford Entrance into Service
[Annotator's Note: A dog barks in the background throughout video.] Clifford Smith was born in Jeannette, Pennsylvania...
Simon, Albert Entrance into Service
Albert Simon was born in February 1920. His parents worked on a farm. He was raised on the farm and worked there until...
Wolyn, Monroe Entrance into Service
Monroe S. Wolyn was born in Brooklyn, New York [Annotator's Note: Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs in New York, New...
Nygren, Karl Entrance into Service
Carl Nygren was drafted before he graduated high school. He had to take an exam for basic English and arithmetic. He...
Burkle, Henry Entrance into Service
Henry Burkle was in service at Chanute Field, Illinois when he heard about Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese...
Goyette, Donald Entrance Into Service
After his brother was drafted into the infantry, Donald F. Goyette was accompanied by his parents when he went off for...
Goldsborough, William Entrance Into Service and Deployment
When William Goldsborough turned 18 in January 1944, he registered for the draft, and was allowed to finish out his...

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