FIRST DAY OF US MOBILIZATION IN WWI

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2395

CITIZEN SOLDIERS TO BE HONORED AS NEVER BEFORE

New York City (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, August 9, 1917, New York's Deputy Attorney General Roscoe S. Conkling*, upon returning from a Washington conference with Provost Marshal General Enoch H. Crowder**, announced "the first day of the mobilization of the selective draft army (will be) celebrated throughout the country with appropriate ceremonies."***

The Deputy AG stated that men called to the colors were to be "honored as citizen soldiers seldom have been honored before."

Conkling also announced that the governors of all states would be invited to the Nation's Capital to make arrangements for "parades, mass meetings, and decorations."

*Roscoe Seely Conkling (1884-1956) was born in Paterson, N.J. & graduated from Amherst College in 1908.  RSC served as Deputy Attorney General of the State of NY until 1919.


**Major General Enoch Herbert Crowder (1859-1932) was born in Edinburg, MO & graduated from Grand River College & the United States Military Academy.  EHC served as Judge Advocate General 1911-1923 & implemented & administered the Social Security Act of 1917.

***The first day of mobilization was set for September 1, 1917.  200,000 of the first 687,000 will be called up and sent to camps by Sept 5.

SOURCE

"First Command To New Army, Order Out For Mobilization of Honor Men," The Chicago Daily Tribune, August 10, 1917."

General Crowder, Hugh Samuel Johnson

 & Roscoe S. Conkling

Camp Upton (1917)

Bain Collection

Library of Congress Image

FIRST LIBERTY ARMY REGISTRATION

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2331

TEN MILLION AMERICAN MEN ANSWER CALL TO REGISTER FOR DRAFT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, June 5, 1917, ten million American males ages 21-30 signed up for military service in the first of three National Registration Days.

In Cleveland and Detroit registrars ran out of registration forms and had to print emergency supplies.  Provost Marshal General Enoch H. Crowder* ordered all offices to stay open until all applicants were registered and "slackers" were given a one day grace period to sign up without penalty.

*Major General Enoch Herbert Crowder (1859-1932) was born in Edinburg, MO & graduated from Grand River College & the United States Military Academy (1881). 

 EHC studied law in Brownsville, TX & was admitted to the bar.  He served as Judge Advocate General of the United States 1911 & 1923 & as administrator of the Selective Service Act of 1917, 2.8 million men were inducted.

SOURCE

"'US May Pass 10,000,000; Illinois 640,000, Rush of Youth To Aid Nation Swamps Polls", by Arthur Sears Henning, The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 6, 1917.

First National Registration Day
June 5, 1917
Library of Congress Photo