GENERAL LEWIS B. "OLDEST SOLDIER" HERSHEY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/18/1968 - HFSID 313673

GENERAL LEWIS B. HERSHEY
As Director of Selective Service, a post he held for three decades, the General thanks someone for an "inspiring" letter.
Typed Letter signed: ""Lewis B. Hershey", 1 page, 8x10½. Office of the Director, National Headquarters, Selective Service System, 1968 January 18. On official letterhead to Mark E. Brown, Venice, Florida, in full: "I appreciate very much your gracious and thoughtful letter of January 12, 1968 and the article entitled, 'I am 70 today'. Both are inspiring. With thanks and all best wishes. Sincerely". Lt. General Lewis B. Hershey (1893-1977) saw brief service in France, with the rank of Captain, in World War I. In October, 1940, Brigadier General Hershey was assigned to the staff of the newly created Selective Service System (September 16, 1940) and in December was named Deputy Director. In July, 1941, he became Director of Selective Service, a post he held until February, 1970, except for the time between his retirement in December, 1946, and his recall in January, 1947, and the few months between the expiration of the 1940 law in March, 1947, and the enactment of the peacetime draft a few months later. When the Army involuntarily retired Hershey in March, 1973, at the age of 79, he was the oldest man on active status. Normal mailing folds. Ink note (in unknown hand) at bottom right corner. Ink smudge at bottom left corner. Pencil note (in unknown hand) on verso (no show-through). Otherwise fine condition.