About me

Enations
A collection of poetry

Life Forms on Mars
A short story

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The War Years

In the beginning

Letters from Home
A recreation of life in Guadalupe, California in 1944 from comments in letters by my mom to my dad and from personal memories. To be added later.

The 165 days in the combat zone, Luzon, The Philippines, 1945. A limited recreation of what my dad faced and experienced from whatever comments I can find in letters from him to my mom and from a few memories of comments he made about his war experiences.

Letters from home

Letters to home

The Souvenirs of War

Civilian Mementos

Images after the war

 With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the focus of the American people was to the horror and the shock of this singular act. Not only did it serve as a rallying cry to war among Americans but also as a point of reference to a reason for war. The grievous losses incurred at Pearl Harbor provided a reason to remember and a moment to give honor to the fallen. Such events were further immortalized by tokens of remembrances, such as pins.

Another outgrowth of the war effort was to be found in the day to day living of the civilian population. While soldiers were training and in combat, the civilian population was mobilized to help in the battle by the implementation of rationing. War ration books and coupons appeared and required registration as well as the use of the distributed coupons in order to make an appropriate purchase.

Pride in America and in the support of the war effort was also reflected by the use of window banners. The reality of war was evident in every household.

July 4, 2007

© Jerry Copeland

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