Lewis Blaine Hershey

Lewis Blaine Hershey (1893-1977) was the Director of the Selective Service System of the United States. He joined the Indiana National Guard in 1911, entered the U.S. Army in 1920 with the rank of captain, and held a series of appointments and duty posts. In 1936, he was made secretary of the Joint Army and Navy Selective Service Committee. When Congress established the first peacetime draft in September 1940, Hershey then served as Deputy Director of the Selective Service System from 1940 to 1941, and Director from 1941 to 1970. In February 1970 he was replaced as Director of the Selective Service, and was promoted to the rank of full general. He retired from the Army in 1973.