Meanwhile Back Home: Childhood Experiences during World War II
Despite being safe at home as war raged over much of the world during World War II, American children experienced life-changing events that elicited both specific and various responses. Children, having parents involved in the war campaign, had to deal with new family dynamics and new responsibilities, even though the war was fought on foreign ground. Certainly, the impact of World War II on children in the United States deserves recognition. This oral history project seeks to retrieve information concerning the experiences of children in the Second World War, whose impressions were strong enough to be seared in their memories, even at very young ages. With few exceptions, children were aware of the threat that faced the country and responded to the call. They played their part in winning the war. They walked to school listening for air raid sirens, carried scrap metal to school for collection, offered their dimes to buy War Bonds, and sent caring packages to children in Europe. Some children missed one or both parents, who were either away at war or in factories making war materiel or transporting equipment. The mechanics of life changed. Each family had ration books assigned to them, one for each member of the household, including infants. Butter, sugar, tires, gasoline, and other materials were rationed. No cars, bicycles, tractors or other domestic products were built. Factories were converted to war-time needs: planes, ships, tanks, ballistics. Life, as the children knew it, had changed. Fifty interviewees answered ten questions that were designed to focus their memories of the war and provide a uniform basis for the study. Some recollections were common, others quite unique. Very few children were so protected by their families that they had no idea a war was raging. Fifty elders of various backgrounds and locations were interviewed. The goal was finding how children reacted to the events that changed their lives. It was an era of unity and patriotism.
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Meanwhile Back Home: Childhood Experiences during World War II
Despite being safe at home as war raged over much of the world during World War II, American children experienced life-changing events that elicited both specific and various responses. Children, having parents involved in the war campaign, had to deal with new family dynamics and new responsibilities, even though the war was fought on foreign ground. Certainly, the impact of World War II on children in the United States deserves recognition. This oral history project seeks to retrieve information concerning the experiences of children in the Second World War, whose impressions were strong enough to be seared in their memories, even at very young ages. With few exceptions, children were aware of the threat that faced the country and responded to the call. They played their part in winning the war. They walked to school listening for air raid sirens, carried scrap metal to school for collection, offered their dimes to buy War Bonds, and sent caring packages to children in Europe. Some children missed one or both parents, who were either away at war or in factories making war materiel or transporting equipment. The mechanics of life changed. Each family had ration books assigned to them, one for each member of the household, including infants. Butter, sugar, tires, gasoline, and other materials were rationed. No cars, bicycles, tractors or other domestic products were built. Factories were converted to war-time needs: planes, ships, tanks, ballistics. Life, as the children knew it, had changed. Fifty interviewees answered ten questions that were designed to focus their memories of the war and provide a uniform basis for the study. Some recollections were common, others quite unique. Very few children were so protected by their families that they had no idea a war was raging. Fifty elders of various backgrounds and locations were interviewed. The goal was finding how children reacted to the events that changed their lives. It was an era of unity and patriotism.
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Meanwhile Back Home: Childhood Experiences during World War II

Meanwhile Back Home: Childhood Experiences during World War II

Meanwhile Back Home: Childhood Experiences during World War II

Meanwhile Back Home: Childhood Experiences during World War II

Paperback(Original, Unpublished Work ed.)

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Overview

Despite being safe at home as war raged over much of the world during World War II, American children experienced life-changing events that elicited both specific and various responses. Children, having parents involved in the war campaign, had to deal with new family dynamics and new responsibilities, even though the war was fought on foreign ground. Certainly, the impact of World War II on children in the United States deserves recognition. This oral history project seeks to retrieve information concerning the experiences of children in the Second World War, whose impressions were strong enough to be seared in their memories, even at very young ages. With few exceptions, children were aware of the threat that faced the country and responded to the call. They played their part in winning the war. They walked to school listening for air raid sirens, carried scrap metal to school for collection, offered their dimes to buy War Bonds, and sent caring packages to children in Europe. Some children missed one or both parents, who were either away at war or in factories making war materiel or transporting equipment. The mechanics of life changed. Each family had ration books assigned to them, one for each member of the household, including infants. Butter, sugar, tires, gasoline, and other materials were rationed. No cars, bicycles, tractors or other domestic products were built. Factories were converted to war-time needs: planes, ships, tanks, ballistics. Life, as the children knew it, had changed. Fifty interviewees answered ten questions that were designed to focus their memories of the war and provide a uniform basis for the study. Some recollections were common, others quite unique. Very few children were so protected by their families that they had no idea a war was raging. Fifty elders of various backgrounds and locations were interviewed. The goal was finding how children reacted to the events that changed their lives. It was an era of unity and patriotism.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9798823127035
Publisher: Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date: 10/05/2022
Edition description: Original, Unpublished Work ed.
Pages: 186
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Gabrielle's long interest in history led to earning an M.A. in History from the University of Illinois and eventually an M.A. in Counseling at Santa Clara University. A writing group prompt on fear, led the author to express deeply-held memories regarding World War II, despite having been born late in the war. She set out to find others with war experiences, interviewing many people who were children at that time, eager to discuss their vivid memories. Work experience varied among Community College teaching, Biotechnology, and government contracting. Gabrielle is married, has two children and two grandchildren. She and her husband reside in the San Francisco area.
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