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ť Topic: WW II Enlistment Age ?
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I was going through the documents I received from St Louis concerning my father-in-laws WW II service. I found a document ( NRB Form No. 18 ) titled [b]Consent, Declaration of Parent or Guardian in the enlistment of a minor under [u] 21 [/u] years of age [/b] .

It was signed by his father Oct 6, 1942. I have always thought and the little internet research I did indicates that the enlistment age without parental consent was 18. Dad was almost 20 at that time. Can anyone explain?
Thank you.

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63

TM2c John E Mirus
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Posted By: rickas | Posted on: May 26, 2014 - 5:24pm
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm

I went to the Navy Recruiting Station on the day after Pearl Harbor. I was 19 and a half at the time. I was told that I had to sign up for 6 years and that I needed a parent's consent. My mother did not want to sign the papers. I told her that I could be ripe for an Army draft that would be forthcoming and that my being in the Service would give my older brother a deferment. My mother finally agreed providing I waited until after Christmas. I went in on Jan 16, 1942. At that time, 17 year olds could sign up until they turned age 21. Signing up for the duration occurred later in the year.

Posted By: Pat Rogers | Posted on: May 26, 2014 - 11:33pm
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 3:21am

The age of consent, or that point where you were officially deemed an "adult" was 21 at that time. It wasn't until November 1942 when the draft age was lowered to 18. The Navy didn't start taking draftees until 1943.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: May 27, 2014 - 5:16am
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Thank you both. Makes a bit of sense now. Probably explains why there is also a letter from the local draft board ( dated Jan 43) to the Navy asking if he was really enlisted. Appreciate your time and explanation.

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63

TM2c John E Mirus
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Posted By: rickas | Posted on: May 27, 2014 - 8:59am
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm

i originally went to air force recruting officw ,with 3 of my buddies,to enlist in air force.they were 18 and i was 17.i was told i was not old enough at that time.november 1942.while they signed uo in af i went across the street to navy recruting.i was ttyold i could enklist but had rtto get my parents consent.i did ansd i qwas picked up at my house the evening of dec 25 and taken straight to the train station.the enlistment time was given as duration and 6 months,when i was discharged i was then told i was subhect to call for the next ten years.i wwas dischaRGED DEXC 25 1945

earl richmond

Posted By: earl | Posted on: May 27, 2014 - 5:25pm
Total Posts: 197 | Joined: Oct 18, 2006 - 12:13pm

I graduated from high school in May 1942. My birthday is in April so I was barely 17 years old. Most of the boys in my class were 18 so they went into the service. You could join without parental permission if you were 18. I wanted to join but my parents refused to sign. They said I had to stay home until Christmas. I went to recruiting office in January 1943 and they finally gave permission for me to join the Navy. I had my 18th birthday in boot camp in San Diego.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: May 28, 2014 - 9:49am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

I think C. J.'s take on the situation is correct.

The way I've always read it was that you didn't need your parent's or guardian's permission to enlist if you were 18 or older during World War II.

Obviously, you were officially considered an "adult" upon reaching the age of 21 back then, and for years afterwards (until the voting age was lowered to 18 in the 1970's), but...

As I said, I've always read -- and been told -- that lots of 18 year-olds signed up on their own, and 17-year-olds, with their parent's or guardian's permission.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 28, 2014 - 2:29pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

When they lowered the draft age to 18 and the Navy started taking draftees, it kind of made the asking your parents permission kind of moot.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: May 28, 2014 - 3:37pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Contrary to what some people may have read or been told, anyone who was younger than 21 had to have his parent's consent before he could enlist in the Navy. This applied to that period right after Pearl Harbor. If you were 17, you enlisted until you reached age 21. If you were 18 or older, you had to sign up for 6 years. If what I am saying is not true, then I was certainly beguiled by some recruiting officer back in December 1941. I don't know when but later on a person could sign up for the duration of the war plus 6 months

Posted By: Pat Rogers | Posted on: May 30, 2014 - 11:37pm
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 3:21am