World War I

Over twenty-four million American men registered for the draft for the First World War in 1917 and 1918. There were three draft registrations, which included all men residing in the U.S. -- whether native born, naturalized, or alien -- between the ages of 18 and 45.

On May 18, 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed, authorizing President Woodrow Wilson to temporarily increase the military establishment of the United States. The Selective Service System was responsible for the process of selecting men for induction into the military service, from the initial registration to the actual delivery of men to military training camps. Under the office of the Provost Marshal General, the Selective Service System was made up of 52 state offices (one for each of the 48 states; the territories of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico; and the District of Columbia), 155 district boards, and 4648 local boards. These organizations were responsible for registering men, classifying them, considering needs for manpower in certain industries and agriculture, as well as family situations of the registrants; handling appeals of these classifications; determining the medical fitness of individual registrants; determining the order in which registrants would be called; calling registrants; and placing them on trains to training centers.

During World War I there were three registrations:

The first, on June 5, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 and 31.

(click signature to see entire draft registration card)

William Van de Bogart

Micheal Bernard Casey

Lorin J. Crawford

James Patrick Casey

Fredrick Louis Lafin

*Served the United States during WWI

Cornelious Irwin

The second, on June 5, 1918, registered those who attained age 21 after June 5, 1917. (A supplemental registration was held on August 24, 1918 for those becoming 21 years old after June 5, 1918. This was included in the second registration.)

Augustus Gilbert Bonesteel

Egbert Aron Alsdorf

Howard Eli Davis

Tony Michele Sini

George Sharpe Krom