🪖 WWI Draft Notice & Physical Examination (1917): The Call to Serve

📌 Explore an authentic World War I draft notice from 1917, detailing the Selective Service process, medical examinations, and immigrant enlistment. Learn how millions of men—both citizens and immigrants—were called to serve in America’s war effort. Ideal for genealogists, historians, educators, and students.

🪖 World War I Draft Notice & Physical Examination: A Critical Step in U.S. Mobilization (1917)

📜 The Importance of WWI Draft Notices

The Notice of Call and to Appear for Physical Examination was a critical step in the conscription process under the Selective Service Act of 1917. This official document, mailed to eligible men, informed them of their obligation to report for a medical examination—a decisive factor in determining their fitness for military service.

This page provides a firsthand look at the draft system through the example of Christian (Ludvig) Gjenvik’s notice from Madison, Minnesota, dated July 31, 1917. It offers valuable insights into how young men—both citizens and immigrants—were selected, examined, and prepared for duty during America’s entry into World War I.

This document is an essential resource for historians, genealogists, and educators studying military history, immigration, and social dynamics during WWI.

📌 Key Themes & Historical Significance

⚖️ The Selective Service Act of 1917: Mobilizing an Army

✔ Passed on May 18, 1917, the Selective Service Act required all men aged 18 to 45 to register for the draft, regardless of citizenship status.

✔ The Local Boards were responsible for issuing draft notices, conducting physical exams, and classifying men into service categories.

✔ 24 million men registered, and over 2.8 million were drafted into the U.S. Army.

🔹 This document provides a direct example of how the draft system functioned, offering a tangible link to the soldiers who answered the call.

Notice of Call and to Appear for Physical Examination for Christian Gjenvik, Red Ink Serial Number 548, Lac qui Parle County, Madison, Minnesota, 31 July 1917. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Documents Collection. GGA Image ID # 1822499298

Transcription of Notice of Call

Board No. 548
Local Board Lac qui Parle County
Address, Madison, Minn
Notice of Call and to Appear for Physical Examination
to Christian Gjenvik
Madison, Minn. R. 4

You are hereby notified that pursuant to the act of Congress approved May 18, 1917, you are called for military service of the United States by the Local Board from among those persons whose registration cards are within the Jurisdiction of this Local Board.
Your Serial Number is 548 and your Order Number is 21.

You will report to the office of this Local Board in Madison, Minnesota, for physical examination on 6 August , 1917, at 8:00 A.M.

Any claim for exemption or discharge must be made on forms which may be procured at the office of the Local Board, and must be filed at the office of this Local Board on or before the SEVENTH day after the date of mailing this notice.

Your attention is called to the penalties for violation or evasion of the Selective Service law, approved May 17, 1917, and the Rules and Regulations made pursuant therein, which penalties are printed on the back hereof.

Local Board Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota

by __________ , Chairman
__________, Clerk
Date of Mailing hereto, 21 July 1917.

Learn More About This Remarkable Man

🇳🇴 From Norway to America: The Inspiring Journey of Immigrant Ludvig Kristian Gjønvik

📌 Explore the remarkable immigration story of Ludvig Kristian Gjønvik, a Norwegian immigrant who overcame orphanhood, financial struggles, and war to build a new life in America. Perfect for historians, genealogists, educators, and students exploring early 20th-century immigration.

Physical Examination

Beginning on such date or dates as the Provost Marshal General shall hereafter fix for the beginning of the physical examination of all or any number or proportion of registrants, and after a registrant has been placed in Class I by a Local Board (regardless of any appeal), the Local Board shall mail to the last known address of any registrant placed in Class 1 a notice (Form 1009, sec. 281. p. 220) to appear for physical examination at a time and place to be designated in said notice (which time shall be five days from the date of the mailing of the notice, unless otherwise ordered by the Provost Marshal General), and shall enter the date of mailing of said notice in column 19 of the Classification List.

Upon appearance of the registrant he shall be examined as provided in Part VIII hereof and in Form 75, and the date Of his examination shall be entered in column 20 of the Classification List. The examining physician shall immediately enter his report and recommendation in triplicate on the report of physical examination (Form 1010, sec. 282, V 227).

The same procedure as to physical examination provided in these regulations for registrants in Class I shall also apply to all registrants who have been placed in a class more deferred than Class I. so soon as the immediately preceding or earlier class has been exhausted by calls into the military service and not before, except as provided in sections 128, 149, and 150.

Note 1.—Whether the examining physician of the Local Board is in doubt or not as to the physical qualification of a registrant for military service he shall nevertheless definitely report the registrant either as qualified or disqualified, and if he is in doubt as to such qualification or disqualification, he may request to have the registrant sent before a Medical Advisory Board or a member or members thereof as prescribed in section 123.

Note 2.—Registrants in Classes II, III, and IV, will not be physically examined except upon general order issued by the Provost Marshal General, or when special call is made for the induction into military service of registrants in such classes, unless under the provisions of section 128.

Note 3.—The entry by the registrant on the Questionnaire of the claim for physical disqualification is not to be construed as a claim from which an appeal lies to the District Board on account of the refusal of the Local Board to classify the registrant in Class V-G. Appeals from classification on physical grounds may be made as provided in sections 122 to 128, inclusive, and not otherwise. (Telegram A-2142, Jan. 3, 1918.)

Note 4.—See sections 141, 142, and 143 for provisions relating to transfer of physical examination, physical examination of registrants residing abroad and physical examination of mariners actually employed on the Great Lakes.

Excerpt from Part D, Section 122: Physical Examination in Selective Service Regulations Prescribed by the President Under the Authority Vested in Him by the Terms of the Slective Service Law (Act of Congress Approved 18 May 1917), Form 990, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1917, pp. 91-92.

📑 The Draft Notice: A Life-Changing Document

✔ Christian (Ludvig) Gjenvik’s notice includes:

🔹 His serial number (548) and order number (21).

🔹 A strict deadline (August 6, 1917, at 8:00 AM) to appear for his examination.

🔹 Warnings about the penalties for evading the draft, emphasizing the legal obligations of registrants.

🔹 Information about how to file for exemption or discharge, which had to be completed within seven days.

🔹 For genealogists, this is an invaluable document that not only confirms military service but also provides key personal details like residence and legal status.

🩺 The Physical Examination: Who Was Fit for Service?

✔ Medical exams determined who was fit for duty, who needed further evaluation, and who was unfit for service.

✔ The Provost Marshal General set specific guidelines, requiring:

🔹 All Class I registrants (those eligible for immediate service) to undergo examination.

🔹 Deferred classes (II, III, IV) to only be examined when their class was called up.

✔ The process included:

🔹 A thorough medical review conducted by the Local Board’s examining physician.

🔹 The possibility of being referred to a Medical Advisory Board for further assessment.

🔹 This section highlights the scientific and bureaucratic aspects of draft selection, showing the level of detail involved in military preparation.

🛂 Immigrants & the Draft: The Americanization Process

✔ Non-citizen immigrants—like Christian Gjenvik—were still required to register and serve.

✔ The draft became a path to U.S. citizenship for many, as military service often expedited naturalization.

✔ Immigrants had to navigate name changes, language barriers, and legal complexities as they entered military service.

🔹 For genealogists tracing immigrant ancestors, this document is a crucial record that connects them to both their homeland and their military service in America.

📷 Noteworthy Images from This Page

📸 Notice of Call and to Appear for Physical Examination – Christian Gjenvik (1917)

A rare and well-preserved example of an official WWI draft notice, illustrating the Selective Service process in action.

📚 Why This Page Matters for Historians, Genealogists & Educators

📖 For Military & Social Historians

✔ Offers a primary source document showcasing the Selective Service process during WWI.

✔ Highlights the bureaucratic, medical, and legal aspects of conscription in wartime America.

✔ Demonstrates the logistical challenges of drafting millions of men into military service.

🕵️ For Genealogists & Family Researchers

✔ A crucial document for verifying an ancestor’s draft status and potential military service.

✔ Provides residence, legal status, and physical fitness details that are valuable for tracing family history.

✔ Connects immigrant ancestors to their American experience, revealing how they integrated into society.

📚 For Teachers & Students

✔ A compelling teaching tool for exploring the impact of the WWI draft on individuals and families.

✔ Encourages primary source analysis and critical thinking about government policies during wartime.

✔ Offers insights into the immigrant experience and their contributions to the war effort.

🔍 Final Thoughts: Why This Document is a Historical Treasure

The WWI Notice of Call and to Appear for Physical Examination is more than just a bureaucratic form—it represents a pivotal moment in the lives of millions of men who were preparing to serve their country.

🔹 For military historians, it illustrates the process of military mobilization in 1917.

🔹 For genealogists, it confirms family connections to the war and provides key biographical details.

🔹 For educators and students, it is a powerful document that personalizes history, showing how real individuals experienced the draft process.

Whether researching WWI conscription, an ancestor’s military journey, or the immigrant experience in America, this draft notice is an invaluable piece of history that offers a unique window into the personal and national stories of World War I. 📜🇺🇸