Description

Great Book by Osprey Publishing. 64 pages
The outbreak of World War II In Europe in 1939 led to cautious attempts to raise volunteer organizations among American men and women, to back the armed forces in the event of the USA becoming a combatant. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused a huge surge of patriotic response, and voluntary enlistment in a wide range of armed forces auxiliary and civilian support services. After an introduction on the background, and on the general character of wartime life in the States, this book will cover in detail a number of these services, many of which have been completely forgotten. In 1942 America feared heavy enemy air attacks on the homeland, and possible landings; the historic American culture of local and volunteer effort saw the formation of home guard, coast watch, and wilderness patrol services on land, at sea and in the air; auxiliary medical and welfare, transport and training organizations, and the organized conservation and rationing of strategic materials. While shortages and hardships did not approach those felt in Europe, by American standards this was a period of some sacrifice, and enormous volunteer effort.