The “Old Man’s Draft”

The United States had war-time draft registrations in its history  (e.g., Moses Woodington and his brother were drafted into the Civil War) but on July 1, 1940, Congress passed by one vote the first Selective Service and Training Act in a peacetime era. President Roosevelt signed the Act into law on September 16, 1940 recognizing the rising level  of conflict in the world. The following year, on December 8, 1941, we entered into World War II.

There were six draft registrations during WW II and the fourth of those was called “The Old Man’s Registration” or “The Old Man’s Draft” because it required men between the ages of 45 and 64 years to register. This registration was held on April 27, 1942 and mandated that men born “on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897” fill out a registration card.

Below is the registration card for Ferdinand and Mary’s son, Theodore “Tad” Rudolph Aderman. His wife, Cleva, is recognized as the one “who will always know your address.” We also get a bit of a physical description of Tad at the age of 47.

World War II "Old Man's Draft" registration card for Tad Aderman

The second part of Tad Aderman's Registration Card