On January 4, 1918, twenty eight year old Hans Eiler Boldt received a selective services postcard from the War Department. This postcard informed Hans that he was placed in Class I, E by the Local Board for the county of Floyd in the State of Iowa. Informing him that he could file an appeal within five days of the postage date.
Just eleven days later on January 15, 1918, he received another postcard from the War Department notifying him to appear on January 21, 1918 for a physical examination or face prison time and immediately be sent into service. World War I ended in November of that year and there is no evidence that Hans served.
In April of 1942, he was called to register for World War II in the 'Old Man Draft'. There is no evidence that he served in that war, either. However, his daughter's husband served in the US Navy in WWII.
It's a humbling experience to hold these documents and for everyone who served in a War, either through Selective Services or Enlistment - I have the utmost respect for you. Thank you for your service.
From my Research
Hans was born in Denmark in 1890, arrived in Quebec, Canada in 1913 on the vessel Andania with the intention of making Canada his permanent home as a farmer. Then, in 1915, he arrived in Detroit on his way to Central City, Iowa to join his friend Peter Carasen to farm there. In 1921, he made a trip to Denmark to visit his father. The 1930 census has Hans living in Detroit as a Bricklayer. He married Kristina Lassen and had at least one child with her. It appears as though he moved to Phoenix, AZ sometime in 1952 and passed just 6 years later at the age of 67. He is listed as a Widower but I have been unable to locate much on his wife.
Hans Eiler Jensen Boldt
1890 - 1958
