August 5, 1941 (Tuesday)

ORLO RECEIVES NOTICE FROM LOCAL DRAFT BOARD

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Cool + Dry and Sunny Day.

Did usual routine of

daily work. Took another

nap this P.M. Catching

up on rest + sleep.

Did most of the ironing

to-night.

Henry went to G.R. to

Road Comm Meeting.

Vera Watts came to ride

to G.R. with Henry but

he had gone and

forgotten about her

wanting to ride with

him.

Orlo received his notice

from draft board to go

to G.R. next Tuesday Aug

12 for physical exam.

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The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was implemented on September 16, 1940. It was the first peacetime conscription in United States History. Exactly one moth later, Orlo Hostetler registered for the draft.

Following World War I, there was an effort made to better screen individuals for physical and mental health before entering into service. Tuberculosis took a toll on servicemen during World War I. It was a leading cause of disability discharges. In addition to tuberculosis and other physical health matters, about 122,000 men were hospitalized for mental health issues during that war. As a result, the Federal Government paid out well over 1 billion dollars for disability, compensation, and hospital treatment of WWI vets for mental health related issues alone.

At the time of the the 1940 draft, a physical screening to "eliminate the physically and mentally unfit" was put into place.

Prior to entering into war, the United States hoped to enlist 900,000 "highly qualified" men. The pool from which to secure those men was about 17,000,000. As such, standards for selection for service was quite high. This changed significantly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Physical standards were lowered as the demand for service personnel significantly increased.

Local boards were given the authority to make determinations about an individuals ability to serve. Physical exams, appeals, conscientious objector status, and deferment requests were all determined by these local boards which were often made up of prominent and influential community members.

On this day in 1941, not quite a year after registering for service, Orlo Hostetler (age 22) received his notice to report to the local draft board for his physical exam.

Four months and two days after receiving that notice, the United States would be at war.