Could a 41 year old male enlist in the U.S. armed forces in WWII - in 1945?

Question

Assuming he was in generally good health. Or would he have been too old? This is for a biography. Thanks!

Answer 1

If I'm not mistaken when the war was at its most intense they were not only accepting the enlistment of healthy 41 year old males they were in fact drafting them up to that age.
however the average age of an American solider during world war two was 26 years old.

Answer 2

My Grandfather Did. He was a trained Naval Electricians Mate. Discharged in 1943 as a down -sizing effort and when he couldn't find work on the outside he reenlisted and served until 1951.

Answer 3

In l945 he would already be in the services unless he was unable to go for medical reasons. Everybody was in it. I think the war ended in 1945.

Answer 4

MEN OFTEN TELL REALLY ABSURDLY IMPROBABLE TALES ABOUT THEIR TIME IN THE SERVICE, AND THE MOST IMPROBABLE ARE TOLD BY MEN WHO NEVER WERE IN SERVICE. I KNOW OF ONE CASE WHERE A MAN MANAGED TO GET IN THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS BEFORE HE WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE DONE THE DICK CHENEY AND GOTTEN DEFERRED AND AVOIDED SERVICE ALL TOGETHER .

AS THE SECOND WORLD WAR PROGRESSED AND THE NEED FOR CANNON FODDER INCREASED, THE INDUCTIOIN BOARD STEADILY REMOVED DISQUALIFING CIRCUMSTANCE. THEY REACHED LOWER AND LOWER IN AGE UNTIL THEY HAD EVERY EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD KID, EVERY MARRIED MAN WITH LESS THAN THREE CHILDREN, EVERY MAN WHO WAS LESS THAN FORTY ELEGIBLE FOR CONSTCRIPTION.

FORTY-YEAR-OLD MEN WERE NOT INCLUDED AND MANY OF THE MEN IN THEIR LATE THIRTIES WERE FOUND UNFIT BY REASON OF HEALTH AND WERE CLASSIFIED 4-F AFTER A MEDICAL EXAM. THAT PERCENTAGE WAS ASTONISHINGLY HIGH, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

I THINK THAT ONLY MEN WITH SPECIAL SKILLS WERE TAKEN UPON VOLUNTEERING IF THEY WERE OVER 39. OBVIOIUSLY DOCTORS, DENTISTS, CHAPLINS OR, IN SOME CASES, MEN SKILLED AT MAKING PROPAGANDA FILMS. THAT WAS REAGAN'S DUTY DURING THE WAR, THOUGH HE WAS UNDER 39, MAKING FILMS, SO HE STAYED IN L.A. AND WAS HOME EVERY NIGHT. NONETHELESS, RONNY OFTEN SPOKE OF "WHEN I CAME BACK FROM THE WAR." THAT'S WHAT I MEAN ABOUT TALL TALES. JOHN WAYNE TOOK A DEFERMENT AND DUCKED SERVICE TO HELP "CIVILIAN MORAL " BY MAKING WAR MOVIES IN UNIFORMS HE NEVER LEGITIMATELY WORE. HE FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF SOUTH BEACH, MADE A TONE OF MONEY, AND SAVED HIS CAREER, THOUGH HE NEVER LEARNED TO ACT, PILGRIM.

Answer 5

If he had prior service maybe. Don't forget there were plenty of things needed to be done on the homefront that contributed to national security. True, women manned bigger percentage of the workforce than ever before, but there was plenty of ships to build, tanks to build, etc.

Answer 6

Yes, if they were in the National Guard already.

Answer 7

he would be just too old.this a retired navy mans answer.

Answer 8

I BELIEVE THEY WERE ONLY ACCEPTING 18-35 YR.OLDS