(Grand Haven Daily Tribune, Wednesday, 15 April 1942)

Army Expansion at Rate of 250,000 a Month Next Year.
Training the Disabled.

The Army is getting ready to dip into the nation’s secondary reserve of man power. Already in sight is the day when all men with 1-A draft classifications will be in the armed forces. On that day, some time about the end of 1942, the draft boards will begin calling up men now deferred.

This does not mean that every man in the fighting age group – 20 to 45 – will be drafted. There are an estimated 26,000,000 in this group. At its peak, the Army probably will not need more than 10,000,000 men.

Older men – those from 36 to 45, will be called in relatively small numbers, probably not more thatn 500,000, or one out of every 14. Almost all of these will be under 40.

Many younger men – from 20 to 35, will see service, and the 20 to 27 year-olds will be called almost in mass.

Here is the picture:
Army is taking men rapidly, at the rate of almost 150,000 a month. The supply of 1-A men from the first registration – those 21 to 36 years old – is running out. Some local draft boards have exhausted their supplies. Most boards are expected to pull in the last of the 1-A’s in the 21-to-36-year group by June.

Already a few boards are beginning to call the 1-A’s from this year’s registration – the 36 to 45 year-olds and the young men of 20. By June, most local boards will be relying almost entirely on the 36-to-45 and the 20 year-old groups. More than 1,000,000 of the 20 year-olds are expected to be eligible for 1-A classification, and few more than 500,000 of the 36 to 45 age group.

Next year the Army will be taking men faster than ever, at an induction rate of 200,000 or 250,000 a month. About 4,000,000 men will be needed. With the supply of present 1-A’s exhausted, the Army will have to be filled by men now deferred. The question remains: Who of those now deferred, eligible for deferment or not yet registered will be called first?

Here is the answer:

19-year-olds – These young men, just turning 20, probably will be registered in January or February next year and will be called as a group shortly afterward.

1-B-s – Men classified as 1-B because of minor physical defects are to be called, too. There are about 1,500,000 of them. They have no dependents; are not engaged in war work, and are eligible for limited military service, if not for combat duty. So far the Army has called none of this group. Within a few weeks, the first 1,000 will be called up and will be put through a training course so that the Army may see what has to be done for such men. Many may be fit for frontline duty within a few months of Army training.

2-A’s – Men now deferred because they are considered necessary to concerns not essential to the war effort will soon be reclassified 1-A, or 1-B.

3-A’s – More than two-thirds of all men in the 21 to 35-year group have been classified 3-A because one or more persons are dependent on their earnings. Already local boards are re-examining the 3-A classifications, hunting for men whose families may be dependent on them in name but not in fact. Within a few days, the local boards will begin setting up a new classification known as 3-B. In this group will be placed men, with dependents, who are engaged in war work – men who are necessary to war industries.

Family Allotments – The War Department is putting finishing touches on a family allotment plan under which a man in the Army would be required to send at least $15 to $20 a month to his dependents. To this sum, the Government would add $25 to $30 for a wife and $8 or $10 for each child. Such a plan soon will go to Congress. It if is approved, local boards will be instructed to call married men whose families with such allotments, would suffer no serious hardships. This would mean that a man who doesn’t contribute more than $50 or $60 a month to his home, in addition to an amount sufficient to pay for his own board and lodging, could be called for service immediately. – United States News.

The following letter was eddressed to the editor of the Havenite. It contains valuable information for boys, especially seniors, who are interested in joining the Navy after graduation. Those wanting further information may obtain it by visiting the United States Navy Recruiting Station, Room 234, Post Office Building, Grand Haven.

"An important change in Navy recruiting regulations affecting high school senior men was announced today by Lieut. Byron E. Flechtner, Navy recruiting officer.

"The change enables these men to enlist now in Class V-1 of the Naval Reserve with the privilege of continuing their education in college before being called to active duty, at which time they may train for Ensigns’ commissions," Lieutenant Flechtner explained.

"Heretofore, the right to go on inactive duty and continue college education under Class V-1 was extended only to college freshmen and sophomores.

Qualified high school seniors, who present credentials of their acceptance for enrollment in freshmen classes of accredited junior colleges, universities or colleges, will be accepted for immediate enlistment in Class V-1.

After they finish their sophomore college year successfully, these V-1 enlistees may transfer to their choice of V-5 – Naval Aviation – or V-7 of the Reserve. Those in V-5 will enter flight training immediately and, if they pass successfully, will receive Ensigns’ commissions and Navy wings.

Thos who enter V-7 may complete all four years of college and begin training to be Ensigns after graduation."
Lieutenant Flrechtner advised men interested in –1 to visit their nearest recruiting stations, under no obligation to enlist, for further information.

(Grand Haven Tribune, Monday, 24 November 1958)

Selective service registration is a continuing requirement for all young men when they reach 18 years of age, D. H. S. Rymer, chairman of Ottawa County draft board, said today.

Young men must register for the draft within five days after reaching 18 and they can register at any draft. No matter where he registers, the young man will be under the jurisdiction of the board covering his permanent home.

Members of the reserve components of the armed forces, including the National Guard, are required to register. Only those on active duty in the armed forces are not required to register but they must do so within 30 days after being discharged if they were born after 30 August 1922, and have never registered.

Grand Rapids – Adoption of central war time was urged by the Kent county board of supervisors Monday in approving a resolution which said that present eastern war time was "resulting in defeat of the very purpose congress sought to accomplish". Charles Montgomery, who sponsored the measure, said that "great hardship" had been caused by placing the county "two hours in advance of the sun".