(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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The 1940 Burke-Wadsworth Act created the first peace-time draft in United States history. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, thousands of American men and women volunteered for United States' military service. After the United States entered World War II, a new selective service act made men between 18 and 45 subject to military service and required all men between 18 and 65 to register. From 1940 until 1947 - when the wartime selective service act expired after extensions by Congress - over 10,000,000 men were inducted. This is the draft registration card of Caryll Munro Crafts of South Deerfield, Massachusetts. It was issued to him on April 26, 1942. He was required to carry this card on his person at all times. The back of Mr. Crafts's draft card contained his physical description: white race, 5' 10" tall, 180 lbs. weight, blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, left handed, and wearing glasses. Note the other race designations of "Negro," "Oriental," "Indian," and "Filipino."

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