World War II Woman

Milkweed pods for defense

January 5, 2009 – 10:40 am

Routine beckons, so here I am back with twice-a-week blog entries in an attempt to help us all understand what life was like back in the early 1940’s. I welcome readers’ comments and also their stories, which I can share with others.

Today’s post comes from Bob, a friend in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He supplies me with newspaper clippings every so often. This one comes from the October 23, 2008 issue of the Christian Science Monitor. It’s about milkweed pods and the value of this roadside weed during World War II. Other people have told me of their memories gathering these pods, but this article helps us understand the reason for this activity.

During the war, kapok - a soft, cottonlike material from the kapok tree - was often used to fill life jackets, but the supply of kapok was cut off when Japan occupied Java. A substitute was needed. Floss from the milkweed came to the rescue! A major campaign was launched to involve school children and a slogan was created, “Two bags save one life.” This was the amount needed to fill one life jacket.

Children, including Bob, from all over the United States and Canada were engaged in the project. (I lived in a city and never saw a milkweed pod until many years later.) The pods were sent to the Petoskey Fairgrounds in Michigan to be dried and processed. It’s been estimated that more than 11 millions pounds of milkweed were collected by the end of World War II.

This activity is just one more example of how everyone from school children to grandparents was engaged in the war effort. For more stories, check out the archives of this blog, and also go to www.peggeorge.com.

 

 

 

 

 

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An Inconvenience

December 24, 2008 – 9:03 pm

One evening last week, I unexpectedly came across a TV program featuring the Oak Ridge Boys and Manhein Steamroller as they performed a fundraiser for Feed the Children. One of the groups sang the song about the first Christmas being the most inconvenient Christmas. Yes, it was full of inconveniences.

Can we imagine all the inconveniences the weary travelers faced? Traveling for miles for a stupid census, tired and hungry wondering where they would find food and lodging along with all the other people in the same situation. Patience must have been strained as they pushed and shoved trying to secure that last hotel room or hoping that the wayside stand had a few remaining particles of food. And then we have Mary – about to give birth.

I was reminded of a meditation I recently read in The Progressive Christian about the Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The writer of the meditation, Pam McAllister, wondered what Phillip Brooks was thinking when he penned the words “stillness, deep sleep and silent stars.” Aside from the silent stars, the town of Bethlehem must have resembled our busy airports at this time of the year – nasty weather hampering travel, flights cancelled, and weary travelers sleeping on benches, the floor, or wherever they can stretch out.

Yes, it is all very inconvenient, as was that first Christmas. Yet in the midst of that weariness, uncertainty, and unhappiness, God came to the world in the form of a newborn child. Today, in the midst of uncertainty, unhappiness, greed, hunger, and war, God is still with us. May God’s presence be felt in your life during this Christmas season, and throughout the entire year.

I’ll be back next year. Merry Christmas.

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Navy experiences in and about the Pacific (continued)

December 18, 2008 – 6:00 am

The previous blog about Bob mentions that he saw a Star of David on the outside of a building in Shanghai and asked the rickshaw man to let him off. When Bob entered the building, he found a compound of Russian and Polish refugees who had found a haven there in Shanghai. The compound was basically a food kitchen, providing food and shelter for these wanderers away from home. They were very poor with no source of income. So Bob emptied his pockets.

He wrote home about this experience in a detailed letter. His aunt saw the letter and sent it to Max Lerner, the editor of PM magazine in New York City. Bob’s letter was published.

Years later, Bob and his wife Ruth visited the Jewish museum in Shanghai. They saw a picture of the compound hanging on the wall. When the curator was made aware of Bob’s experience, he asked Bob to relate in more detail what he had found following the war. Bob’s account is now a part of the archives of the museum.

Bob had another experience he related. His aunt was a manufacturer of leather products in New York City. During the war years, she had lost track of one of her leather suppliers from China. This supplier was Lidell and Company in Shanghai. Bob’s aunt asked him to try to track down this company. He went up and down the famous Bund, asking business people if they had any news of him. He learned that Mr. Lidell had been interned by the Japanese, and was just returning to restart his business.

At a reunion of his Navy buddies, Bob discovered one of his shipmates living in a town close by. They became good friends, sharing their common experiences until the death of his former shipmate several years ago.

 For more World War II stories, go to www.peggeorge.com

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Navy Experiences in and about the Pacific

December 15, 2008 – 12:32 am

Bob was 17 when he joined the Navy in February of 1944. After boot camp training, he was off to Hawaii where he boarded LST226, not knowing for sure where he was headed. By June 15, he was taking part in the invasion of Saipan. Following the first wave of troops to invade the island, his ship returned to refuel. He spent the next few months in the Marianna Islands

On September 15, Bob took part in the battle at Pelelieu, which turned out to be a terrible disaster. Many American lives were lost. Because the ship’s water tanks were broken up from the coral underneath, the ship headed back for repairs; this time all the way to the States. Bob recalls being in San Diego when President Roosevelt died April 12, 1945.

Shortly after that, he was sent back to the Philippines. He and the others were loading up the ship when they heard the news that the atom bomb had been dropped.

His next assignment was to go to Shanghai to move Japanese military troops out of China and repatriate them to Japan to the port of Kobe.

For the next six months, Bob spent time visiting the sights of Shanghai. One day he noticed a Star of David on the outside of a building and, being Jewish, he told the man pulling the rickshaw to drop him off there. (More about this adventure in the next blog.)

Meanwhile the Navy sent his ship to Hyphong by mistake. When they arrived at Hyphong, the town officials had no idea what to do with them. Further research discovered that the Navy should have sent them to Hainan, where they were to pick up Chinese soldiers to take them to ChinWangTao, where the Great Wall of China joins the sea. Here the Chinese soldiers would join up with Chiang Kai Shek’s forces to fight Mao.

On the lighter side, Bob, a trumpet player tells of going to the Park Hotel, the great hotel in Shanghai, where occasionally the Chinese jazz band asked him to sit in with them.

 

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The film Australia

December 11, 2008 – 6:00 am

Several weeks ago, the day it was released, some friends and I went to see the movie Australia. For some peculiar reason, this film has been receiving very mixed reviews. It was clear to us and to others at the theater and to a number of people to whom I have spoken that it was a very good movie. The setting was most unusual, the characters were well-acted and quite memorable, including the evil guy, and, of course, the little boy. The fact that it was set in the period immediately following Pearl Harbor day added information that many of us were not aware of.

It is easy to be critical of the Australian earlier practice of separating biracial children from their mothers and placing them in mission schools, as shown in the movie. But our record of separating Native American children from their families was just about the same thing.

Back to the World War II reference. I’m sure many of you knew that Australia was attacked within months of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I did not. In the movie, a horrible scene was shown, with many lives lost and utter confusion – much like any attack anywhere, I suppose, whether in an American high school, the streets of Baghdad, a first-class hotel in Mumbai, the twin towers of New York City, or the refugee camps in Somalia.

The attack, planned and led by the commander responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor, occurred on February 19, 1942. At least 188 planes were launched against Darwin where the harbor was full of ships. Many ships were lost and much damage was done to the town of Darwin. At least 243 people were killed and between 300 and 400 were wounded. The attack was dramatically shown on film, particularly as it involved some of the characters we cared about.

I’m glad I saw the movie Australia.

For more  World War II stories, go to www.Peggeorge.com

 

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President Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy Speech

December 8, 2008 – 6:00 am

Mr. Vice President [Henry A. Wallace], Mr. Speaker [Sam Rayburn], members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: yesterday, December 7th, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor [Hirohito] looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador [Kichisaburō Nomura] to the United States and his colleague [Saburō Kurusu] delivered to our Secretary of State [Cordell Hull] a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounding determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

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December 7, 1941 (final)

December 4, 2008 – 6:00 am

Three more memories –

Ralph vividly remembers where he was – at the Oxford Movie Theater on Rising Sun Avenue in the Burkhome section of Philadelphia watching a double feature. It wasn’t until he went out onto the street that he heard what had happened. Everyone was talking about the attack. However, it was at school the next day that the importance of the attack became very real. Northeast High was an all-male school. Every student knew that the events of the previous day would drastically effect his life far into the future.

Margarita was at her home in Wynnefield, near Philadelphia, when news of the attack came over the radio. She was with her mother and other family members. Her greatest memory is that of fear. The attack was a terrible shock accompanied with worry for her own safety. She recalls looking at the windows in her bedroom and thinking they could be blown out. Her comment is that she was “really afraid.”

Anne was at Penn State College, now Pennsylvania State University, in Centre County. She was eating dinner with fellow students in the dining room when word of the attack was announced. The news was met with great shock and unhappiness. Many of the girls were crying because their boyfriends were already in the service. And, of course, the male students knew that war would greatly change their plans. It was a time of much uncertainty about the future.

 

This ends my series of memories of Pearl Harbor Day. I am grateful to the people who shared their stories. Sunday is Pearl Harbor Day. On Monday, December 8, I will feature President Delano Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy speech.

For more World War II stories, go to www.peggeorge.com.

 

 

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