This was America's defining moment. Following the Japanese attack, a spirit of patriotism and service swept across the country. Americans looked for ways to contribute to the war effort. They
joined the military, volunteered with the Red Cross and other organizations, and
moved into new jobs to help. During the course of the war, more than 16 million
Americans served in the military. From 1941 to 1942 alone, the army grew from
about 1.4 million to more than 3 million, the navy increased from under 300,000
to more than 600,000, and the marines expanded from only about 54,000 to almost
150,000. Americans from all ethnic and racial backgrounds joined the fight.
"Approximately 300,000 Mexican Americans and 25,000 Native Americans served in
integrated units. Nearly one million African Americans also joined the military.
They served mostly in segregated units, however, and were at first limited to
supporting roles. However, as casualties mounted, African Americans saw more
active combat and some eventually served in white combat units." (Booker, 2008, p. 62).
Over 350,000 women also responded to the call. In 1941, Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers
introduced a bill to establish a Woman's Auxiliary Corps - which became the
Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1943 - to provide clerical workers, truck drivers,
instructors and lab technicians for the United States Army. More than 150,000
women volunteered for the service; 15,000 served abroad over the course of the
war and over 600 received medals for their service. More than 57,000 nurses
served in the Army Nurse Corps, putting themselves in danger to care for the wounded in Europe and the Pacific. Tens of thousands
more American women joined similar navy and Coast Guard auxiliaries. American women proudly served the
cause and greatly inspired and contributed to the rise of patriotism in America. The timeline below and the accompanying
photo slide-show, helps to put in perspective the events that stirred ordinary Americans to realize their potential.
From the start, ordinary American citizens remaining at home began to
sacrifice their own comforts and needs for the sake of the United States
Armed Forces. "President Roosevelt and the other Allied leaders also knew
that American production would play a key role in helping the Allies win the war. Although
American industry had started to mobilize in response to the war effort,
production still needed to increase the rate at which it turned out war
materials." (Bradley, 2000, p. 87). Under the direction of the government, Americans worked to create
a "production miracle." The massive defense spending finally ended the Great
Depression; for the first time in more than a decade there was a job for every
worker. Each year of the war, the United States raised its production goal for
military materials, and each year it met these goals. The Ford Motor Company
poured all of its resources into war production, building over 8,000 B-24
Liberator bombers. Henry J. Kaiser's shipyards produced large merchant "Liberty
Ships" in as little as four and a half days. In 1944, American production levels
were double those of all the Axis nations put together, giving the Allies a
crucial advantage. In a toast at a wartime conference, even Joseph Stalin, an
Allied leader, praised American production: "To American production, without
which the war would have been lost." Stalin was only half-correct. Behind the
toil and sacrifice of the United State's material productivity was a spirit of courage
and love that transcended "self". No one was unaffected by the horror or the glory.
The United States is a nation more than its workers, rather, it is the common bond of
that spirit within each who come to live on these shores that makes this nation great.
joined the military, volunteered with the Red Cross and other organizations, and
moved into new jobs to help. During the course of the war, more than 16 million
Americans served in the military. From 1941 to 1942 alone, the army grew from
about 1.4 million to more than 3 million, the navy increased from under 300,000
to more than 600,000, and the marines expanded from only about 54,000 to almost
150,000. Americans from all ethnic and racial backgrounds joined the fight.
"Approximately 300,000 Mexican Americans and 25,000 Native Americans served in
integrated units. Nearly one million African Americans also joined the military.
They served mostly in segregated units, however, and were at first limited to
supporting roles. However, as casualties mounted, African Americans saw more
active combat and some eventually served in white combat units." (Booker, 2008, p. 62).
Over 350,000 women also responded to the call. In 1941, Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers
introduced a bill to establish a Woman's Auxiliary Corps - which became the
Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1943 - to provide clerical workers, truck drivers,
instructors and lab technicians for the United States Army. More than 150,000
women volunteered for the service; 15,000 served abroad over the course of the
war and over 600 received medals for their service. More than 57,000 nurses
served in the Army Nurse Corps, putting themselves in danger to care for the wounded in Europe and the Pacific. Tens of thousands
more American women joined similar navy and Coast Guard auxiliaries. American women proudly served the
cause and greatly inspired and contributed to the rise of patriotism in America. The timeline below and the accompanying
photo slide-show, helps to put in perspective the events that stirred ordinary Americans to realize their potential.
From the start, ordinary American citizens remaining at home began to
sacrifice their own comforts and needs for the sake of the United States
Armed Forces. "President Roosevelt and the other Allied leaders also knew
that American production would play a key role in helping the Allies win the war. Although
American industry had started to mobilize in response to the war effort,
production still needed to increase the rate at which it turned out war
materials." (Bradley, 2000, p. 87). Under the direction of the government, Americans worked to create
a "production miracle." The massive defense spending finally ended the Great
Depression; for the first time in more than a decade there was a job for every
worker. Each year of the war, the United States raised its production goal for
military materials, and each year it met these goals. The Ford Motor Company
poured all of its resources into war production, building over 8,000 B-24
Liberator bombers. Henry J. Kaiser's shipyards produced large merchant "Liberty
Ships" in as little as four and a half days. In 1944, American production levels
were double those of all the Axis nations put together, giving the Allies a
crucial advantage. In a toast at a wartime conference, even Joseph Stalin, an
Allied leader, praised American production: "To American production, without
which the war would have been lost." Stalin was only half-correct. Behind the
toil and sacrifice of the United State's material productivity was a spirit of courage
and love that transcended "self". No one was unaffected by the horror or the glory.
The United States is a nation more than its workers, rather, it is the common bond of
that spirit within each who come to live on these shores that makes this nation great.