During World War II men ages 18-65 were required to register with selective service. Across the country, American men waited for the “lottery” to call their number. Like other World War II conventions, conscription became a target in The Saturday Evening Post cartoons of the 1940s. Our cartoonists searched for the lighter side of local draft boards, draft classifications, and the dreaded rejection!
“We’ve relaxed our requirements just a bit.”
Misha Richter; December 19, 1942
“Friends of the family? Oh, no, sir — we were just passing by.”
Al Ross; January 16, 1943
“I’ve been trying for 15 years to get my affairs in order, and now my draft board expects me to do it in 10 days.”
June 5, 1943
“I was rejected.”
Bill King; October 16, 1943
Bill Ruble; November 13, 1943
Mischa Richter; February 19, 1944
“He was recalled to duty just as the picture was taken!”
Lawrence Lariar; December 9, 1944
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Comments
Dick, thank you for drawing our attention to the errors. They have been corrected.
The first cartoon in this section is by Misha Richter not Fred Price and the second one not by O”Malley but by Al Ross.
Both are clearly signed by these two cartoonists who toiled for The Post, Collier’s and most famously The New Yorker.