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World War II Honoree

Civilian on the Home Front

W. A. Drake

Hometown

Cushing, Payne County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PAYNE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA SELECTIVE SERVICE BOARD (AKA 'DRAFT BOARD') FROM NOVEMBER, 1940 TO OCTOBER 15, 1943. THE LOCAL DRAFT BOARD HAD TO CALL UP MEN VIA THE NATIONAL LOTTERY NUMBERS, WHICH DETERMINED THE ORDER IN WHICH A MAN WAS CONSIDERED FOR MILITARY SERVICE. THE BOARD ALSO GRANTED 'OCCUPATIONAL DEFERMENTS' FOR MEN BASED ON A NATIONAL LIST OF 'ESSENTIAL OCCUPATIONS.' THE PAYNE COUNTY BOARD MADE DECISIONS ON HOW TO INTERPRET AND APPLY THE NATIONAL POLICY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.