From his Selective Service cards, he registered for the draft on October 6, 1940, he was classified I, pending medical examination, on December 10, 1940, and was classified I-A on February 4, 1941.

Notes:

The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was enacted September 16, 1940, and was the first peacetime conscription in U.S. history. Draftees would have to stay in 12 months (the war changed that to the duration of the conflict). The lottery was held on October 29, 1940. I don't have a grasp of the process (see, for example, long discussions of it in Hartford Courant or Brooklyn Eagle). On his registration card, Dad wrote down 223 (which shows up printed on the other cards) and 1305. Courant story said that up to No. 1500 would fill quota of around 800,000 soldiers; however, serial no. 223 drew lottery number 6754, so not sure where 1305 came from.

Dad's induction report is dated February 25, 1941. Obviously, the first indication of his serial number 32008856, which would follow him.

Notes:

1. Shows he had already filed papers for naturalization on Dec. 19, 1940.

2. Amusingly, he translated his German education to 3 years grammar school and 9 years high school (and 6 years university).

3. He says we was earning $25 a week for 6 months as "Medical Student-Medical Sec."; don't know what that references

4. We get an address for his parents in London (1 Oakfield Court-Kings Avenue, London, SW4)

5. An emergency contact, about whom I don't remember hearing: Dr. Paul Hoefer, 3900 Greystone Ave., Riverdale, NY. He is also the person to whom Dad's grandfather sent initial letters. None of the facts I found about him elucidate the connection. According to passenger lists, he came to U.S. at age 30 in 1934, was born in Munich, and listed as surgeon. In 1940 census he is at this address (as urologist--probably error for neurologist). He retired as professor of neurology at Columbia University, died in 1982. [The person mentioned in this article in 1943 was his brother; both of them are listed in their mother's naturalization application. It is possible that she--Dr. Sophie Hoefer--was the connection; two younger children were born in Leipzig and she may have lived in Berlin later.]