SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_System
Edward was 41 when he completed the draft on 12 September 1918
1917 to 1920
World War I draft card. Lower left corner to be removed by men of African ancestry in order to keep the military segregated
Following the U.S. declaration of war against Germany on April 6, the Selective Service Act of 1917 (40 Stat. 76) was passed by the 65th United States Congress on May 18, 1917, creating the Selective Service System.[10] President Woodrow Wilson signed the Act into law after the U.S. Army failed to meet its target of expanding to 1 million men after six weeks.[11] The Act gave the President the power to conscript men for military service. All men aged 21 to 30 were required to register for military service for a service period of 12 months. As of mid-November 1917, all registrants were placed in one of five new classifications. Men in Class I were the first to be drafted, and men in lower classifications were deferred. Dependency deferments for registrants who were fathers or husbands were especially widespread.[12] The age limit was later raised in August 1918 to a maximum age of 45. The military draft was discontinued in 1920. Wiki.