the draft
The United States foresaw their involvement in World War II by starting the first peacetime draft in the history of the country on September 16, 1940, more than a year before they entered the war. Although “all men between the ages of 21 and 45” were required to register for the draft, not all were chosen to be used as fighters (“The Draft and WWII”). There were many draft classifications, which were used to distinguish how much a man could be used to support the war effort.
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The draft had huge effects on Americans. Every single military-aged man had to register for the draft, and more than “10 million [were] inducted in the military” by the end of the war (“The Draft and WWII”). The sheer number of men removed from their homes is astounding. However, not all men were selected. Most of the older part of the 21-to-45-year-old age group were not selected because of their age, but most of the younger section were. Men who received the 4-F draft classification -- unfit for military service because of a physical, mental, or moral defect -- faced questions at home about why they did not serve. Even though “thirty percent of registrants across America were rejected for physical defects,” men at home during the war were still viewed as “4-Fers,” someone who had no reason to stay at home (“Recruits: The 4-F Classification”).
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