Noncombatants in World War II
The onset of World War II was met with a surge of patriotic support and a wave of enlistment, but not all who were involved in World War II aided the Allied victory upon the battlefields. Women were not accepted in the drafts, and men had to reach an age limit as well as pass a medical exam. However, even if individuals were not suitable for combat, they were enlisted and utilized for the war effort. America's involvement in the war effort was critically dependent on the nurses and doctors that kept soldiers healthy, thousands of workers back home producing supplies, a finance unit that paid soldiers, and individuals in the Logistics network.
The inclusion of female nurses in the military effort in the spring of 1941 occurred only a few months preceding the United States entrance into the war ( Wilson , S-top). The increase in female enlistment for nursing positions was a result of the necessity to fill positions rather than an effort for social equality. Thousands flocked to join the ranks of military nurses as well as nonmilitant organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Waves (S-top). Throughout the war, 1619 medals or awards were given to nurses for their outstanding service (S-top). The role of the nurse quickly gained a sense of respect among troops as a sort of safe haven away from the front lines where soldiers could converse or flirt with their female nurses ("Nursing," S-top). Soldier and nurse relationships were common, though not frequent, and created a heightened sense of morale and determination to fight for specific individuals. Relationships were capable of spanning previously impossible geographic, cultural, and ideological limitations, and eventually contributed to the blend of ideas from the Baby Boomer generation (Carnes and Garraty 744).
Other individuals overseas were responsible for taking care of the soldiers physically, mentally, and financially. One group, the finance unit, was charged with paying the soldiers their "partial pay." Bob Hershower, a World War II veteran who was not allowed in combat because of his eyesight, was part of a United States finance unit, stationed primarily in Brussels , Belgium . As a member of the finance unit, Hershower gave the soldiers partial pay after their doctor's examinations, and sent them home for "RR," or rest and relaxation. Hershower commented that, "they [the draft] were taking everyone they could take." Even men who could not fight were badly needed and greatly utilized to bring the Allied victory (Hershower 1).
With the growing importance of money upon the globalizing economy of the twentieth century, a need arose to deal with what Stanley Faulk defines as "the economics of warfare," or Logistics. Logistics is "practically everything related to military activities besides strategy and tactics." These "military activities" include "industrial mobilization, research and development, funding procurement, recruitment and training, [and] testing" (Gropman 1). According to Henry Eccles, Logistics has two main components. The first begins with the national economy, and involves the production of supplies by civilians. The second part relates to how the supplies are used for victory against an enemy. Branches of Logistics were responsible for the vital and massive transport of supplies, food, ammunition, and men across the globe. Eccles sums up Logistics as the "bridge between the national economy and the combat forces," (1). Logistics was a significant component of the Allied victory; in fact, Alan Gropman boldly declares that, "Logistics was the strategy" for World War II (1). The United States actually had fewer soldiers than Germany and Japan in proportion to their populations, but more factory workers at home. World War II is a prime example of the influence and necessity of Logistics in fighting a modern war.
The individuals that did not participate in the war on the front lines, such as nurses, doctors, factory workers, and members of the finance unit, all significantly contributed to the Allied victory. While the battlefield determined the outcome of the war, the supporting efforts made by thousands behind the scenes shaped the way battles would unfold. Although these individuals do not always receive the credit due, they were vital to the war effort. Their contribution to the war was immeasurable, and as the world becomes more globalized, electronic, and technological, their importance will only continue to grow.
By: Sarah Smith & Andrew Sirois
Works Consulted
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