Korean War - UK and USA enlistment ages?

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narikis
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Korean War - UK and USA enlistment ages?

#1

Post by narikis » 28 Oct 2020, 11:52

Can someone tell me what the minimum and maximum enlistment ages for active military duty were in the UK and USA during the Korean War? I am curious to see if they retained the age-limits of WW2 or if they had changed.

I am not just asking about conscription ages here, but also the age limits for volunteers.

LineDoggie
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Re: Korean War - UK and USA enlistment ages?

#2

Post by LineDoggie » 18 Nov 2020, 23:19

US 18 (17 if parent signed)
"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here".
Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach


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Hans1906
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Re: Korean War - UK and USA enlistment ages?

#3

Post by Hans1906 » 18 Nov 2020, 23:52

Narikis,

my american father was born in 1931/1932(?), and joined the US forces at the age of 17 years, as a later professional soldier.
(This is, what I remember from his only reminders.)

Bob later served in Korea and Vietnam, and was honorably discharged from service in 1974(?).
(What he told me personally at our only meeting in the year 2001)

Until today, I am not even sure about the correct date of birth of my father, most of all this for me still a mystery.

Hans1906

P.S. He made my mother pregnant at the end of 1955, because I was allowed to see this beautiful world in August 1956, at least that is for sure.
(Better than nothing!) :lol:
Last edited by Hans1906 on 18 Nov 2020, 23:59, edited 1 time in total.
The paradise of the successful lends itself perfectly to a hell for the unsuccessful. (Bertold Brecht on Hollywood)

narikis
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Re: Korean War - UK and USA enlistment ages?

#4

Post by narikis » 18 Nov 2020, 23:56

LineDoggie wrote:
18 Nov 2020, 23:19
US 18 (17 if parent signed)
And what about the maximum enlistment age?
Hans1906 wrote:
18 Nov 2020, 23:52
Narikis,

my american father was born in 1931/1932(?), and joined the US forces at the age of 17 years, as a later professional soldier.
(This is, what I remember from his only reminders.)

Bob later served in Korea and Vietnam, and was honorably discharged from service in 1974(?).
(What he told me personally at our only meeting in the year 2001)

Until today, I am not even sure about the correct date of birth of my father, most of all this for me still a mystery.

Hans1906
Thank you. So if he was 17, he must have enlisted around 1948/1949, before the war?

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Hans1906
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Re: Korean War - UK and USA enlistment ages?

#5

Post by Hans1906 » 19 Nov 2020, 00:12

"So if he was 17, he must have enlisted around 1948/1949, before the war?"

I know almost nothing, the man came out of the darkness in 2001, and disappeared into the same darkness after a last E-Mail in the year 2003.

Hans1906

P.S. Nowadays, I am almost over about all this, the never existing american father, the later emotional problems of my mother,
everything is very close related to everything, and I myself am also guilty of not having understood all this soon enough.

When I see films from Korea and Vietnam, I always look for the face of my father, who will always be unknown to me.

Makes no sense anymore, to watch all this horrible ****, life goes on, until the very last second.

Video, with the soundtrack of CSN&Y , war movie, good for absolutely nothing:

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: "Find The Cost Of Freedom"


Krieg ist die Hölle / War Is Hell!

Never again!
The paradise of the successful lends itself perfectly to a hell for the unsuccessful. (Bertold Brecht on Hollywood)

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