WW II and the Draft

May 11, 1943. Helen and I purchased an old used car with recycled tires on it. New tires, cigarettes, sugar and gasoline were all rationed. If you had an "A" sticker on your windshield, that meant you were contributing to the war effort. We had an "A." Occasionally we drove into Chicago to West Congress.

Mother (Mrs. Blanche Marsh) went back to Fayetteville in March of 43 to bring Mrs. Bagley, of the Draft Board, up to date on my employment. I was still 1 A. The Signal Corps indicated to several of us 1 A technicians when we signed on that a deferment was no problem. Bur we had heard by the grapevine that they were slow in this commitment. The board gave me an extension to October 1, 1943.

Henry Crawford, Vertna Crawford (with Marsha)
Earl Crawford and Jennie Braden 1943

By mid May, the draft boards were getting desperate to fill their quotas and deferments were getting rare. On May 17th, Helen, the baby and I took a few days off and went back to Lincoln County. Uncle Grady carried me to Petersburg to talk to Russell Beasley, owner of Beasley's Funeral Home, and related to us through grandma Marsh. He told of their desperate need for draftees to meet their quota and that the Signal Corps should make a strong request for extension of my deferment.

Helen and Marsha with Brownie
Flintville, Tennessee 1943

By mid summer 1943, the Signal Corps had trained enough of its own communications people that they could now use them to replace the civilian people whom they had been using to keep their systems on the ir from Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941. These civilian techs could now have their deferment dropped and be called up. This is what happened and the Signal Corps would not ask the draft boards to continue our deferments. Seven or eight of our group were double crossed by this policy. We all went into Chicago in mass to talk to deaf ears. "Bad times for us."

In September 1943, the draft board began to send out notices to appear for induction. I received my notice September 17, 1943 to appear for induction October 6, 1943. As you will note, this was little Marsha's first birthday.

I was the only southerner that talked real American in a bus load of Italians, all from the area, in and around Congress, Ogden and Roosevelt Road. I felt like a country preacher in a house of prostitution.

I was rejected outright, citing an irregular heart beat, a condition I had experienced from my early teens, particularly when under stress or upset. I can safely say that I was under stress and upset that day. I vividly recall one specific question the psychologist, a weird looking little man with very thick glasses and bad breath, asked me and I quote, "Do you like girls?" I said NO SIR because this country boy thought he meant, do you like to fool around with other girls, and I certainly did not. Thinking back, it appears that my answer may have put the icing on the cake for my rejection.

Breathing a little easier now, in a few days I went downtown in answer to a full page Chicago Tribune ad that stated, seeking men who knew radio, transmitting and receiving equipment, proficient in the Morse Code and capable of instructing, must stand rigid loyalty check. This ad was placed by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA).

The people that interviewed me were evasive, saying only that it would involve highly confidential work for the Federal Government at a place near Chicago, close enough that I could commute if I so desired. I filled out all the papers, listing my qualifications. They said you will hear from us within two weeks. I did.