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From left: Gerry Hamilton, Margaret Ann Blakely and Jean Crosby.
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After emerging from the depths of the great depression,
America found itself thrust into war on December 7th,
1941. As America's young men marched off to war,
America's factories began the shift from making washing
machines and cars to ships, aircraft, bullets and tanks.
As the battles in Europe and the Pacific raged, a
different battle was waged on the homefront. Often
one of loneliness and fear for those overseas, it gave
birth to a new kind of American woman, the Rosie the
Riveter, who marched into the shipyards and aircraft
factories to help with the war effort. This new
woman learned to conquer her fears for her absent
husband and do what she could to shorten the war and
bring him back home again.
Young wives weren't the only ones affected, of course.
Fathers and mothers, aunts and uncles all prayed for
their sons' return, crowding around the radio at night
to hear the latest news, often days or weeks old, from
the War Department.
Food rationing, re-tread tires, spray-on stockings and
victory gardens all became a new part of the American
lexicon. Families hung flags in the windows with a
star for each son or husband in the service. At
the loss of each serviceman, the star became gold, and
"Gold Star" mothers also became numerous.
It is our hope that this section will honor the
hometown heroes of WWII, the ones who were left behind
to worry and pray and keep the home fires burning.
It will include stories and photos, so please sit back,
kick off your shoes, put on some Glenn Miller, and enjoy
stepping back in time.
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Gerry Hamilton's husband, Howard
"Hambone" Hamilton became a POW on the 10 OCT 43 Munster
mission.
Margaret Ann Blakely's husband, Ev, was a 418th original
pilot, who later became the C.O. of the 418th SQDN.
Jean Crosby's husband, Harry, was a 418th navigator, who
later became a much beloved Group Navigator . |
Cindy Goodman
100th Bomb Group Webmaster
Editor, Splasher Six Newsletter |
Jack O'Leary
100th Message Board Administrator |
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