Our Family's Journey Through Time
Title | United States World War I Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 (MyHeritage) | |
Short Title | United States World War I Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 | |
Source ID | S1165 | |
Text | When the United States declared war on the German Empire on April 6, 1917 its standing army was comprised of approximately 100,000 men with another 115,000 in National Guard units. President Wilson immediately directed the Department of War to work to increase the army to a one million-man force. However, six weeks after war was declared only 73,000 new recruits had volunteered for military service. Military planners and political leaders had correctly anticipated the general apathy in the nation for the war effort at its onset and almost as soon as war was declared work began in the US Congress to enact updated conscription legislation. Congress passed the Selective Service Act on May 18, 1917. This act authorized the federal government to raise a national army through compulsory enlistment. The initial Selective Service Act required all men aged 21 to 30 to register. In August 1918, at the request of the War Department, Congress amended the law to expand the age range to include all men aged 18 to 45. Three specific registrations were conducted:
The handwriting on the card is normally that of a registration board worker usually labeled the “registrar”. However, almost all cards contain the signature or “mark” in the handwriting of the registrant himself. | |
Linked to (51) | Arlie Dexter Angood Lewis W. Angood William Homer Ashley Chauncey Burr Bacon Gay Bacon Martin Davis Bacon Ralph Bacon Rollin Bacon Jesse Bartee Frederick Herman William Baumgartner Henry William August Baumgartner Benjamin Baxley Francis Haughey Baxley William Hawkins Baxley Noah Greenville Bearden Roscoe Thurman Biggerstaff John Franklin Bradley Horace Frank Candee James Bain Carey Thomas Evans Castner Jesse Ellsworth Clark, Jr. Charles Ernest Clemmer Ambrose Costner Andrew Jackson Costner Benjamin Walter Costner Beverly Pulaski Costner, Sr Calvin Edgar Costner Clarence Melton Costner Dalton Frederic Costner Emmanuel Grant Costner Floyd Costner Fredrick Lee Costner Fredrick Williams Costner Hoyle Costner James Monroe Costner, Sr. John Franklin Costner John Leslie Costner John Luther Costner Joseph Wheeler Costner, Sr. Leslie Batton Costner Oliver Peterson Rhodes Costner Presley Costner Samuel Jesse Costner David Thomas Cox Albert Emerson Crewson George Grant Crewson, Sr Harry Bernarr Crewson, Sr. Homer Bothwell Crewson Walter Samuel Crewson William Burris Crewson David Darnley [More individuals] |
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