Being born during World War II, I only remember what others told me about those days. The world was in chaos. Fears were great that the Axis powers couldn’t be stopped. America was brought into the war by an event that ranks right up there with 9/11. It was December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was suddenly attacked. Thinking it was just a practice air raid, locals were shocked by the loud explosions and fires that followed the bombing of our Pacific fleet. Thousands of US soldiers were killed. Many of our naval ships were sunk with men trapped inside.
Recently we visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial, it’s built over the sunken battleship Arizona. It was sobering to recall what had taken place there. My aunt Ethel was living in Pearl Harbor during that time with her husband and family. She remembers the terror that was widespread as their island was suddenly no longer a quiet tropical paradise but in the middle of an attack by Japan. Soon afterwards, America joined the allies in World War II.
Young men enlisted or were drafted into the service to fight in Europe and in the Pacific Theatre fronts. Fathers, uncles, brothers, sons and many young women served our country. Some men were deferred from military service because they were needed at home. My father was one of those. He worked as a dispatcher for the railroad in Milford moving troops and supplies to both coasts to be shipped overseas. His younger brother Weston (see photo of him holding me) was drafted and served in the South Pacific.
Over six million Americans lost their lives in preserving the freedoms that we enjoy today. Families would place a flag with a blue star in their window if they had a family member fighting in the war. If that person was killed in action then the blue star was replaced by a gold star.
My grandma volunteered for Red Cross service making bandages and other supplies for the troops, writing letters to our military personnel and consoling those who’d lost sons or husbands in the war. She hoped her son wouldn’t be one of the dead or injured returning home. Rationing of gas, food and other needed supplies became a way of life. Americans were encouraged to buy war bonds to support the war which lasted for five years. Everyone prayed for peace and an end to all wars.
