The Lexington advertiser., 1943-01-28
Classification Card,
Certificates Required

All men in the state of Mississippi
between the ages of Is and 38, who have
been subject to selective service reg
istration for as long as six months and
who do not have their classification
cards, were advised today by Colonel
Lawrence W. Long, State Director of
selective service, to communicate with
their local boards at once. On and after
February /, the Director pointed out,
any man in this age group who does
classification card (form 57) as we'll as
his certificate Of registration is liable
to fine or Imprisonment, or both.
The recent order of the Selective Ser
vice Bureau of the War Manpower Com
mission, setting the February l dead
line for possession of classification cards
by men of military ages, has met with
prompt response in Mississippi, the
Director said. Many registrants are re-
porting to their local boards, requesting
classification or asking that lost classi-
fication cards be duplicated. However,
Colonel Lawrence w. Long says he be-
lieves there are still few who have
failed to get in touch with their boards
because of carelessness or negligence.
Registrants in the -65-year-old
group are not affected by the order, and
Colonel Lawrence w. Long said there
are considerable number of men in
the State who can be considered as de-
linquent, according to selective service
regulations, for failure to keep in touch
with their local boards. Nevertheless,
he emphasized that in the present emer-
gency no man will be allowed to avoid
military responsibility merely because
of failure to keep his local board advis-
ed Of his whereabouts.
1t has been determined, therefore, Col.
Lawrence W. Long said, to require each
registrant subject to the order not only
to have his registration certificate (form
y in his personal possession but also
to have his classification card (form SD
with him at all times to show that he
has been classified by his local board.
While, after February 1, those regis
trants who fail to carry their classi-
fication cards will be liable to fine, inn
prisonment or both, the Director made
it plain that neither arrest nor prose-
cution OF violators of the Sclective Train
ing and Service Act, or regulations pro-
mulgated under it, is the function of the
selective service system or of its agents,
including local board members. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation investi-
gates most of the eases, as the Depart
ment of Justice is the authorized en-
forcement agency. When there is
suspected delinquency, the case is re-
ferred to the appropriate United States
District Attorney.
Violators of the Act, or its regulations,
are liable under the law to a maximum
fine of $4,000, or five years in prison,
or both.
So that each registrant in Mississippi
will comply with the order requiring
possession of classification cards as we'll
as registration certificates, Colonel Law
renee w. Long said that:
"a If he is subject to registration he
should be registered and have his reg
istration certificate (form q in his pos
session.
(2) If he belongs to an age group re-
quired to register as long as six months
ago, exclusive of the 45-to-65-year- old
group, he should have his classification
card (form 81 as we'll as his registra-
tion card in his possession, not later
than February /.
Those subject to the new requirement
who are not in compliance with it or not
certain whether they are in compliance
should:
"a Register at the nearest local board
if they have not registered, and obtain
their registration certificate form %
(2) Go to or write to their local board
IL they have not received their classi-
fication card (form SD and be certain
that their local board knows their
proper address where mail will reach
them at all times.
(3) II they have received classification
card (form 57) and have lost it, they
should so notify their local boards, re.
questing a duplicate.
Any man who is not certain of the
address of his local board should &c
to the nearest local board and ask that
communication from him be referred
to the board having jurisdiction over the
area which he described as his place OF
residence at the time he registered, the
Director said.