John Elmer Atkinson: Military Records

In October 1940 - a little more than a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor - the first peacetime draft in U.S. history was signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

When the U.S. declared war on Japan on 8 December 1941, all men between the ages of 18 and 65 were required to register for the draft. The forth round of registrations, sometimes called 'the old man's draft' as it was for men between the ages of 45 and 64, was conducted on 27 April 1942.

This would have included John Elmer Atkinson, who was by then 63 years old:

REGISTRATION CARD (Men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897)

	SERIAL NUMBER: 1856
	ORDER NUMBER: (blank)

	First, Middle and Family Name: John Elmer Atkinson
	Permanent Address: Third Avenue, Rouseville, Venango County, Pa.
	Mailing Address: Box 121, Rouseville, Penn'a.
	Telephone; Exchange and Number: (blank)
	Age in Years: 63
	Date of Birth: April 28, 1878
	Place of Birth: Forest County, Pa.
	Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address:
		Mrs Alta M Atkinson, Rouseville, Box 121
	Employer's Name and Address: Pennzoil, Rouseville, Pa.
	Place of Employment of Business: Rouseville, Venango, Pa.

	I AFFIRM THAT I HAVE VERIFIED THE ABOVE ANSWERS AND THAT THEY ARE TRUE

		(Signed) John Elmer Atkinson

According to the 1930 Census, John Elmer was not a veteran at that time, so did not serve in the First World War. At this time, I do not know if he was ever called upon to serve in the military.

NOTE:
1:	The above information was taken from scanned images of the original draft cards at www.ancestry.co.uk.