61?
World War II Draft
"The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, also known as the Burke–Wadsworth Act, Pub.L. 76–783, 54 Stat. 885, enacted September 16, 1940, was the first peacetime conscription in United States history.
This Selective Service Act required that men who had reached their 21st birthday but had not yet reached their 36th birthday register with local draft boards. Later, when the U.S. entered World War II, all men from their 18th birthday until the day before their 45th birthday were made subject to military service, and all men from their 18th birthday until the day before their 65th birthday were required to register."
Resource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Training_and_Service_Act_of_1940
Webmaster Note: This page about the military draft of World War II was added to this website, after discovering the following WWII Draft Registation card for George Long AT AGE 61.
ABOVE: This is an image of George Long, who lived to the age of 105 years.
See Mr. Long's obituary at: Darrtown Individuals H-L
ABOVE: George Long farmed the first farm south of Darrtown on the east side of St.Rt. 177. The property now (Nov. 2020) is owned by the Nick Forrest family.
Granted, the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 did not require men over the 45 years to actually report for duty.
Surely, there must be some kind of error.
Surely, the government did not require a 61-year old man to register for the draft.
Or, did it? A bit of research produced the following information.
But, men between 45 and 65 years of age were required to register - as evidenced by the image of Mr. Long's registration card above.
Really?
Extra info about George Long...