WWII

On December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was bombed by the Japanese with heavy loss of ships and military personnel. The following day we officially declared war on Japan, Germany and their axis allies. I was 14 years of age at that time. I remember sitting in the front room with my parents listening to the broadcast of the bombing.

Things about the war I remember:
(1) Rumors of a Japanese invasion of the west coast were rampant. Many of the Japanese living on the west coast were relocated to camps in various in-land states. In retrospect this was an unjustified act. Fear of an immediate invasion overrode common sense and good judgment.
(2) When an American service man was killed in action the family was given a small flag and gold star to display in a front window. When the confirmation of death could not be obtained the individual was listed as “missing in action.
(3) Sacrifice and shortages became a way of life.
(4) Rosy the Riveter became a common slogan in the recruitment of women.
(5) Everyone was issued Ration Coupons that could be used to purchase certain foods and clothing products. Sugar, butter, canned goods, dried peas and beans, tires and gasoline were severely restricted.
(6) Every town held salvage drives for victory. Schools took a very active part in these drives. We collected scrap iron, copper, brass and anything else that could be melted down for the war effort. Aluminum foil was badly needed. We use to peel the foil off the chewing gum wrappers…roll it into a ball and then donate it to help the war effort.
(7) War stamps and bonds were sold by the government.
(8) Posters promoting the war effort were posted everywhere. Many wee focused on buying bonds, others on Army, Navy, Marine and Air force recruitment. Safety of those fighting the war was a primary concern. “A slip of the lip will sink a ship “ is an example of this type of slogan.
(9) The radio and Newsreels at the movies were the major source of information about the progress of the war.
(10) All mail to and from the war zones was censored. This included letters to Holland the Scotland.
(11) There was consensus and support for the war unlike the more recent wars that we have been engaged in.