WW I Draft Card - John Berech Sr.

History of the WWI draft:

On April 6th, 1917, The United States declared War on Germany and officially entered WWI. 

John Berech was 21 years old and would have been living in the United States for 3 1/2 years. 

6 weeks later on May 18th, 1917, the selective service act was passed, which authorized 

President Woodrow Wilson  to increase the military establishment of the United States.  

As a result, every male living within the United States between the ages of 18 and 45 

was required to register for the draft. 

The Period of 1880-1920 was a high immigration period to the United States. Young men 

were required to register for the draft regardless of their U.S. citizenship status. Of course, 

not all the men who registered actually served in the armed forces, and there were some 

who enlisted and served in the war but did not register for the draft.

Registration:

The World War I draft consisted of 3 separate registrations. 

John Berech was part of the 1st Registration.  

The registration on June 5th, 1917, was for men aged 21 to 31 

(men born between June 6, 1886 and June 5th 1896).

Note: John Was born October 1895, 8 months inside the cut off period.

John Berech Sr – WWI Draft Registration Card – June 5, 1917 – Transcription

Page 1

389 2184

Form 1   617  Registration Card   No. 234

1 – Name is full – (Given name)  ((Family Name)  John Berech

                Age in years – 21

2 – Home Address – (No.   Street   City  State) – 422  E  19 (not sure either ST or W??)  NY   NY

3 – Date of birth – (Month   Day   Year) – October 12, 1895

4 – Are you (1) a natural-born citizen, (2) a naturalized citizen (3) an alien, (4) or have you declared your intention (specify which) ? – Alien

5 – Where were you born? – (Town   State   Nation) – Minsk   Russia

6 – If not a citizen, of what country are you a citizen or subject? – Russia

7 – What is your present trade, occupation, or office? – Waiter   (there is a mark here that looks like 29      or V9)

8 – By whom employed? – X – L   Lunch

9 – Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12 or a sister or brother under 12, solely dependent on you for support (specify which)?  -  None

10 – Married or single (which)? – Single

        Race (specify which)? – Caucasian

11 – What military service have you had? -   None    :             Branch   (left blank) 

          Years  (left blank)                   Nation or  State  (left blank)

12 – Do you claim exemption from draft (specify grounds)?  - left blank

I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true.

Signed by -  John Berech

Interesting note – In the bottom left corner separated from the draft card by a slash (like a tear card) and it says – 
“If person is of African descent tear off this corner”

Page 2

Registrar’s Report   31-9-119-A

1 – Tall, medium, or short (specify which) – Medium

      Slender, medium, or stout (which) – Medium

2 – Color of Eyes? – Brown

      Color of hair? – Brown

      Bald -  left blank

3 – Has person lost arm, leg hand, foot or both eyes, or is he otherwise disabled (specify)? – None

I certify that my answers are true, that the person registered has read his own answers, that I have witnessed his signature, and that all of his answers of which I have knowledge are true, except as follows:   (left blank)

Signature of the Registrar – Matthew Mendicino

Precinct - 21

City or County – NY

State NY

Date of Registration – 6/5/1917