General Lewis B. Hershey Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

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 Hershey retired in March, 1973, at the age of 79, he was the oldest man on active status.