By Beverly Clinkingbeard

The ominous threat of war hung over the USA. News from Europe was grim. England lived beneath a reign of terror and bombs from Nazi Germany. Then Japan bombed our Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, and unleashed a grass roots determination for victory. It was time to rid the world of tyrants. Posters reminded everyone they could do something toward victory and buy a war bond. These were the times our grandparents and great-grandparents lived. They hadn’t aimed to be considered the greatest generation. They were being who they were and doing their part to keep it together for themselves and the generations to come.

For several years, the war affected every household – whether from military draft, rationing of food, fuel, or equipment – there was governmental involvement that the citizenry hadn’t experienced before, and possibly wouldn’t have accepted under any other terms.

Locally, newspapers were disseminators for instruction as there were new government regulations and changes in citizenry lives. The newspaper reported who was inducted into the military and which branch of the service they would serve. “The dates on which the boys of different ages will register are as follows: . . .” and, every young man’s immediate future was interrupted with a summation of the required registration:  “During the continuance of the present war, those who were born on or after January 1, 1925, shall be registered on the day they attain their eighteenth anniversary of the day of their birth; provided, that if such anniversary falls on a Sunday or a legal holiday, their registration shall take place on the day following that is not a Sunday or legal holiday.”

Atchison County towns received the following instructions, “The Blackout Practice is scheduled . . . and (every town) will be announced by five long blasts of the city siren. Merchants are asked to extinguish their window and street lights.”

Even traffic changed (presumably to save tires and gas). Stop signs and No-U-turn signs were removed in Tarkio and “motorists are expected to yield the right-of-way from either angle, the exception being on streets that intersect with state highways.”

Saving grease to pulling pods off of weeds for making parachutes and ration reminders that affected every kitchen became a new way of living. Sugar was a crucial commodity. The homemaker used Stamps 15 and 16 for that and if more than ten pounds per person was required, they could appeal to their local rationing board. Coupon Book #13 was valid on June 1st and was “good for 5 pounds.” The extra was for canning purposes. There was a “Campaign for Share-the-Meat.” Block leaders visited 687 Atchison County families and were favorably impressed with their low consumption. Of the volunteer program, “most families thought they were not consuming more than the two and one-half pounds per week for each adult or one and one-half for children ages 6 to 12 . . .”

Advertisers capitalized on the patriotic spirit that enveloped America for her win over the tyrants. Camel cigarettes went so far as to suggest soldiers ate better if they had a cigarette along with their meals, suggesting the Army was usually “short of smokes.” Their solution was Camel cigarettes would be a good gift from home.

Even old shoes and boots were to be rebuilt. One of the places footwear was rebuilt was Hannibal, Missouri, and in “one year it was estimated the government would save seven million dollars and conserve 20 million square feet of leather. Army shoes are usually resoled twice, then sent to Buford, Georgia, or Hannibal for rebuilding. The rebuilt shoes look and wear like the original article and usually are more comfortable because they have been broken in.” The American Red Cross needed blood donations. “A call has been issued for volunteers to help contribute their pints of blood…”

Another newspaper column, “With Our Armed Forces,” reported new duty stations and assignments. Families were quick to report news of their loved ones or excerpts from their letters. “Two Westboro boys who have been students at the Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College at Maryville are reserves at the air corps and have reported to their respective stations. Robert Dunham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dunham, reported Monday for duty at Omaha, Nebraska. Dean Hosher, son of Charles Hosher, reported the same day at Kansas City, Kansas.” “William R. Lindsay, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Lindsay, is now located at Camp Wolters, Texas, in an army division.” “The son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Martin of Tarkio, Willis H. Martin, has been promoted to the grade of corporal at the airplane mechanics school of the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command.”

If all of the above and more didn’t impress upon the citizens to participate in contributing to winning the war, there were servicemen as spokesmen, selling bonds through their experiences, such as, “The young Lieutenant Colonel Cole sees a winter of hard fighting ahead on the continent of Europe and thinks the German forces will not be softened up sufficiently to capitulate until next summer . . . In closing, he stated that it has been his pleasure and honor to help sell bonds. He said he never missed an opportunity to tell his listeners of one of the things about which he was very proud and happy – his entire squadron, enlisted men as well as officer personnel, are buying war bonds every payday.” September, 1943.

Our thanks to present day veterans and the part our service men and women are doing to keep our nation “The Land of the Free.”

’Til next time.