The Kids Talk World War Ii: Homefront Stories

By Judy Hain

I was born on Father’s Day, June 15, 1945. Dad was in Germany. Mom sent him a picture of the birth announcement. Years later she would give me a box containing memories. Among the papers I found ration stamps that had my name on them. I asked her how they were used, but she couldn’t remember everything. That created in me a curiosity. I wanted to know more about what life was like in the United States during WWII.
The sources for this material came from people I met on airplanes, trains, nursing and retirement communities, dinners, just conversation. Whoever would share with me what they remembered.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796053289

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Judy Hain.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019912048

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-7960-5330-2

                Softcover        978-1-7960-5329-6

                eBook             978-1-7960-5328-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/16/2019

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CONTENTS

Preface

The Beginning

The Kids Talk

Challenges

Taste of Home

Preparing for War

Entertainment

Recreation

Family Changes

Medical

Rumors

Rationing

Internment Camps

Blackouts

Beekeeping

Mail

Stockings

Scrap Collection

German POWs

Victory Gardens

Schools

Housing

Weddings

Working Women

D-Day Prayer

Secrets

Mystery?

The Secret City

Secret Rosies

A Secret Code

Mystery Balloons

Secret Monopoly

Interesting Quick Facts

Bibliography

Endnotes

Why was beekeeping in the

United States so

important in World War II?

How did Monopoly games,

made in America, help POWs

escape in Europe?

What did two dice, a double

headed eagle, and the "Deadly

Double Game" have to do with

Pearl Harbor?

How did an American community

have such an impact on soldiers,

that it was talked about in the Fox

Holes in Europe.

Where was the Secret City?

What did hummingbird, whale,

or silver oak leaf mean in the

Secret Code?

Read to find out.

"The home front is always underrated by generals in the field. And yet that is where the Great War was won and lost.

- British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, War Memoirs¹

We have heard and read about the battles and brave men of WWII. Growing up I remember seeing pictures my father had taken of soldiers, places he went to and concentration camps. But I rarely heard of things that happened in the United States during the war.

Preface

I was born on Father’s Day, June 15, 1945. Dad was in Germany. Mom sent him a picture of the birth announcement. Years later she would give me a box containing memories. Among the papers I found ration stamps that had my name on them. I asked her how they were used, but she couldn’t remember everything. That created in me a curiosity. I wanted to know more about what life was like in the United States during WWII.

The sources for this material came from people I met on airplanes, trains, nursing and retirement communities, dinners, just conversation. Whoever would share with me what they remembered.

The names used have been changed to protect their privacy. Since their stories included various topics, I did not try to separate the stories, but allowed them the freedom to talk as they remembered.

Many of the people I interviewed were just children during the war. When I asked them what they remembered, some were too small to remember anything, except what their families had told them. Others were older and remembered various things that impressed them.

Sometimes I did research to find out more about something someone said. In the process of researching, I found other interesting information to add to this book.

This book has been written to honor those, women, men and children, who were at home, doing the things that would be necessary for our soldiers to be successful.

Special

thanks to my family,

friends, and the many students,

who encouraged me, and

would not let me give up.

The Beginning

It was 1941. Americans were recovering from the Great Depression. War was going on in Europe, Hitler had boldly conquered some countries. Americans did not agree with his conquests, but stayed out of the war. Our sympathies were with the Europeans. We would help with needed supplies, but many Americans never thought we would be involved with the war. Actually because of the war, factories were busy and Americans had jobs.

You’re it! shouted George. The children were playing tag. December 7, 1941, had begun as an ordinary Sunday for most Americans. Many would attend church in the morning, and then go to grandma’s house (or some other relative’s house) for dinner. In the afternoon the children would play with their toys, read or play games, and the adults would talk, read the newspaper and listen to the radio. Young men might be playing touch football or some other game. Soldiers at Pearl Harbor were going to church, sleeping in, or doing something relaxing. President Roosevelt was working on his stamp collection.

Then came the news: We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin: The President has just announced: The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by air. Not everyone knew where Pearl Harbor was, but they did know our boys had be attacked.

The following day, Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war against Japan. The Senate approved of the request. In the House only one congressman had objected.

Three days later, after Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, Congress would declare war on Germany and Italy.

Since Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor, where would they strike next? Americans began to prepare for an attack. Young men enlisted immediately. Military recruitment offices were so flooded with enlistees that they operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only men up to 45 were eligible for the draft. Many women (250,000) would volunteer. Training camps across the country were formed. Many young couples would quickly marry and have goodbye babies.

A classification was given to each draftee:

1A:fit for military service

2A:deferred for critical civilian work, such as farming

3A:deferred due to dependents

4A:already served or too old

4B:deferred by law - draft officials

4C:enemy alien Japanese- American citizens (11,000 Japanese- Americans did serve.)

4D:ministers

4E:conscientious objectors physically, mentally or morally unfit for service²

You were eligible to be drafted when you turned 18 and many high school students were. You could appeal to the local draft board to be able to finish school, but most of the fellows were willing to fight. Enlisting was a matter of patriotism and national survival. Many enlisted before they finished high school, or lied about their age. There were Nazi subs off the East coast, Japanese subs off the West coast, and saboteurs all around. Your country needed you. By the end of the war