Men in the military were great heroes. No matter what they were doing, everyone took great pride in the people who helped. The training, the fear, the death, and having to be in the middle of it, was all a part of the military experience during World War II.
During Basic Training, everyone had to be up at dawn for physical training classes. They had to be physically fit in order to be able to do the training. There were obstacle courses, they had to run many miles, and also do exercises. After they passed the training, they were shipped out to either the Pacific or Europe.
Once they had arrived, and been sent to the front line, there was no turning back.
In combat, they saw many die. The men that we interviewed said that they feared death, but after a little while overcame this fear. They had to fight under terrible conditions. The men also had bad food and slept on cold hard dirt. Once they had arrived, and been sent to the front line, there was no turning back. The only way to turn back was to get wounded or killed. The men said that if they had to do it again for their country, they would do it.
The men that went said that their families respected them going. Their families knew what they had to do. Men either enlisted or were drafted into WWII. The draft age was 21-35. Most people went to war willingly, although one group chose not to fight. They were Conscientious Objectors, who did not fight because of religious reasons.
The only mementos that could be taken of your family were pictures. The men communicated home through letters that were picked apart by the censors.
When the war was over in Europe it was called V-E Day. This caused great celebrating, drinking, and dancing with young girls. At the end of the war in the Pacific, or VJ Day, the P.O.W.s were set free and given plenty of food. If they were lucky they found souvenirs of the war to bring home.
When our soldiers returned home they had a great welcoming. They saw their families and children. Some of them saw children they had never seen before.
Whether they were in tankers, an airborne division, on foot, or even stationed at home, they were all still heroes. Meet some of these men in this chapter.
-Duke Ball, Travis BaIderston