The war that united a nation
From age eight until nearly 12, I was among the most fervent of
patriots.
That period embraced America’s participation in World War II and
everyone was a patriot, come to think of it. Nothing was too good
for a serviceman, and practically everyone did without so that the
military branches had everything needed to fight the war.
The only thing more patriotic than a boy is a group of boys, and
our neighborhood teemed with them.
The war that united a nation
From age eight until nearly 12, I was among the most fervent of patriots.
That period embraced America’s participation in World War II and everyone was a patriot, come to think of it. Nothing was too good for a serviceman, and practically everyone did without so that the military branches had everything needed to fight the war.
The only thing more patriotic than a boy is a group of boys, and our neighborhood teemed with them.
We collected and baled waste paper for the war effort, hunted scrap iron to be converted into munitions and even planted and tended victory gardens to supplement the civilian food supply. With the money thus earned, we bought Defense stamps at 10 cents each, and pasted them in books prepared for that purpose.
Most items were rationed, including food. So many ration stamps were required for a pound of hamburger, also for butter and cheese. Shoes were rationed, so many pair a year, and so was gasoline. Rationed items the boys did not need included whiskey and cigarettes.
Because Toledo was the home of Willys, the manufacturer of Jeeps, students who stood out in scrap gathering and in buying Defense stamps would be given a ride around the schoolyard by a soldier in a Jeep.
Harold Gray’s comic strip, “Little Orphan Annie,” introduced the Junior Commandos, who wore armbands marked J.C., and who performed wonders for the war effort. Many boys made their own armbands and wore them proudly.
We also belonged to the Victory Volunteers, sponsored by the American Boys’ Club. Each of us made a solemn vow to do everything in our power for the United States and to never give aid or comfort to its enemies.
My father was born in Germany, one of the nation’s enemies, but all my friends liked him so they decided he was a good German. Mr. Crisatelli, a neighbor from Italy, was a kindly old soul so although we were also fighting Italy, no one suspected him of espionage.
Most of the movies we went to see at the Savoy or Ohio theaters were chock full of heroic adventure as servicemen demonstrated the mettle of Americans. We saw reenactments of most major battles and learned of the Axis powers’ perfidious plans to enslave us if they won the war.
All our favorite radio shows dealt with the war and many of our heroes from radio joined one of the military branches. We learned the words to all the patriotic songs, like “Coming in On a Wing and a Prayer,” “Any Bonds Today?” and “Johnnie Zero.”
Our only worry was that the war would be won before we were old enough to enlist in one of the service branches (remember, we were just boys) and perform all kinds of courageous deeds.
The war ended 62 years ago with an Allied victory. Everyone was glad it was over but the boys lost a sense of purpose that had sustained them for years.
