World War II Woman

Not too long ago I was speaking to a group when a woman made the comment, “I guess you knew someone in the service, didn’t you?”

I was shocked. Of course I knew someone in the service. Everyone did. Off to war went our brothers, our classmates, our teachers, and our husbands. Our colleges and our churches were emptied of young men. Women also signed up as nurses and in the other various service units.

I wonder if those who did not live during those years can imagine what it was like. Convoys of trucks filled with soldiers waving to passerbys frequently were seen on our highways. Sometimes over 100 trucks would be in the convoy. Then there were carloads of soldiers passing by in trains. And, as I mentioned the other day, convoys of ships off the coast of New Jersey sailed by on their way to action overseas. Additionally, our railroad stations were crowded with men in uniform.

In my book, We Knew We Were at War: Women Remember World War II, woman after woman gives witness to the above comments. Beginning with the first entry, Mary’s brother enlisted, and her future husband came home from the war wounded. She also mentions a neighbor boy killed in action. Annabelle speaks of the convoys of soldiers going past her high school as they threw their names and addresses to the waving girls, and some of her male teachers, her high school principal and her brother served. Kathy’s brother joined the Navy, and she, too, talks of a neighbor killed in action. Peggy’s brother enlisted as did many of her high school teachers and classmates. That’s just the first four stories!

Throughout the book, more of the same. Ellen’s two brothers enlisted; Rachel’s college friends enlisted and quite a number were killed. Gloria’s little neighborhood was greatly effected by the war where two boys died, two came home paraplegics, and her two brothers served – one in the South Pacific and one in Europe. Lillian, Alverta, Vivian, June, Minerva, Margaret and Jean all were military wives.

Yes, we all knew someone in the service.

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