Selective Service Act Of 1917 Essay

The bulk of the Pacific Fleet was home ported in San Diego. After a brief induction and basic training, John arrived in San Diego for duty. Much of his time was spent in port but occasionally the fleet set sail. He would steam northward to San Francisco and, after refueling, sail southward again to San Diego. There simply was no combative activity in coastal waters. But that did not mean there was no fighting.
In early 1918, in Coronado, California, two sailors squared off in the recreation center, which also served as the mess hall. They entered the makeshift boxing ring to determine which among them was the best boxer in the Pacific Fleet. This match bore no resemblance to the Las Vegas-hyped heavyweight galas common in the latter …show more content…
The draft envisioned under the original Selective Service Act of 1917 was not overseen by a continuously operating department. All men who, on June 5, 1917 were between 21 and 30 registered. A year later, on June 5, 1918, all men who reached the age of 21 years since the previous registration date were then registered. Not that it mattered but John Ohannesian was 20 years and 359 days on the second registration date. But this process did not get the anticipated numbers that the government felt were needed based on actions in Europe. So the Act was amended and, on September 12, 1918, two months before the guns fell silent in Europe, all men between 18 years and 45 years were registered. Fortunately for most, the war ended before their paperwork could be processed. Within six months of the November armistice, all local draft boards were closed and four months later the department was disbanded and the authorizations under the Act were discontinued. It was an educational experience for the government and the final operations manuals set the framework for the rapid registration and enlistment of most American men less than 25 years later when again the world went to