WW II Memories

I'm very interested in hearing what memories you have about the US during the WW II years (1939 to 1946). If you're old enough to have first hand memories great, but I'd love to hear any stories passed down from grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, etc.

I thought it would be easy to compile memories from my parents and my friends parents but I've learned many were really too young to remember much, or the older ones memories seem to be failing them. Although my dad served in the Army Air Corps he passed away 10 years ago and my middle aged brain doesn't remember the details of the stories he used to tell me about his experiences during the war when I was a child. My mother says "It was a bad time" and doesn't want to talk about it.

I'd love to hear anything anyone has to say, but I'm particularly interested in what things were like on the "home front", the mood, pressures, joys, the experiences of the average American, what everyday life was like and the impact the war had at home.

I included 1946 because I'd also like to know what things were like after the war ended and the GIs returned home; how things had changed or what hadn't changed, what adjustments people went through.

As far as the war went...Yes, it was a BAD TIME...but the patriotism was fantastic. I am going to be 71 YY (years young) in a month...and I remember lots of things.

As school children we had our War Stamps Books...you brought in your dimes and purchased War Stamps for your book....when it was full you turned it in for a WAR BOND! You also saved your pennies for the Red Cross Drive...then received a little Red Cross Badge to wear.

Every child in school was so proud of how big their tin foil ball was getting to be...saved for the war effort of course.

Then there was a certain (and I have tried to remember what it was) plant that grew on fences that we would collect to send in....it was a little white bloom and after it bloomed it turned in to a fluffy head...we then picked it.

Food rationing! You had to have "red stamps" for meat. Sugar was hard to get. I think my Chocolate cravings came from that time. In our small community we had a General Store...privately owned and where you "charged" your groceries and Dad paid it once a month. I remember that Mr. Paisley made it possible for each family to purchase ONE Hershey bar for each member of the family at Christmas....What a Treat.

Gasoline was rationed too...You were given stamps according to how far you had to drive to work...not much "joy ridding" in those days.

I could go on and on...but will give others a chance....Jo

I wasn't even a twinkle in my mother's eye during WWII, but I have a story from my grandmother. Her butcher knew that grandma had a baby at home, so he gave her a little extra meat above the ration portion. That baby was my mom, born in 1943.

Jo, thank you so much! Those are great memories. Everyone I've talked to remember the ration books but you added wonderful details. I bet there were a lot of Mr. Paisleys out there doing "little" things that made things special or eaiser for others.
It's wonderful hearing about things through a child's eyes. I'd love to hear more.....Heidi

I was born in 1940 and just remember tidbits. Like washing out food cans, cutting both ends out and putting them in the can before flatening the cans.

We had milk delivery and there was always a fight for the cream that floated on top of the milk. Since my mother paid for the milk for me, the only child in the household, I usually got whole milk after she shook it up. Unless one of her sisters sneaked in there first.

In 1945 when I turned 5, things must have been really tough because I can remember my grandmother could only get enough ingredients for a birthday cake about 4" in diameter. I can still "see" that cake in my mind.

Darius...you could depend on me to sneak the cream off the top of milk when ever I got a chance...could get my butt whipped for it if caught too many times.....no Red Points needed for our own cow, milk and butter. I remember my Grandmother, Betty, would state that she WOULD NOT drink blue-john (butter fat removed from milk)...guess what? I still don't drink skimmed milk/1% milk!! Jo

LOL, Jo! I don't like skimmed milk either.