James and Jeanne Huser
James and Jeanne Huser
I interviewed my grandfather James Huser and my grandmother Jeanne Huser about their experiences during World War II. Although they were only young adolescents at the time of the war, they were able to recall particular details about its effects on the home front. They supplied me with a variety of information from food rationing and victory gardens to family in the military and censored mail. Each of my grandparents had a relative involved in the United States military during World War II. These individuals shared their war experiences with my grandparents and provided them with an idea of life overseas. Along with these stories from their family members, their own memories offered numerous glimpses into war time.
Q: What is your earliest memory of the World War II?
A: The earliest memory we have of the war is December 7, 1921. I remember my family was sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner, and they announced that the United States had been attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor . I was twelve years old at the time. We didn't know it would affect us, but it affected everybody, especially later with rationing. My older brother Joe joined the navy right after he graduated in 1944 from Cathedral High School . One to two weeks after graduation, he went to boot camp and then worked on a LST, Landing Ship Tank, before going to the Pacific. He was actually only in the war for close to one year.
Q: Did he have numerous friends who joined the war, as well?
A: Yes, almost his entire graduating class joined the navy or air force or was drafted. He got out of the war in 1946. After war and even after Pearl Harbor , young men were encouraged to finish high school before entering into all branches of the military. They tried to avoid army, which was often the result of the draft, and instead, they had the choice of the air force or the navy. I had a second cousin in war from day one in the Philippines . Unlike most, he survived the Day March of Japan; men who slowed down during this were shot on the spot. The Baton March also occurred early in the war. He even survived as a prisoner of war, and I believe that he was a slave laborer in the mines where they were horribly treated. Corregidor was another battle early on in which any opposition was killed in the march for days. Any survivors were well known.
Q: Do you know the age of your cousin when he joined the army?
A: He was 18 or 19 years old, and he was in the army reserves in Corregidor at the start of the war.
Q: Can you tell me about some of the war's effects on you or others, including those at home and those in the military?
A: Gas and food rations began soon after the war started for the United States . Different stamps were given to people for gas. Regular people had Stamp A which allowed them five gallons of gas. Businesses had Stamp C which allowed much more gas. There were no TVs so all reports were made by the radio. Everyone would just sit around to listen to the one popular radio host, and there was only one radio per house to describe the goings on of the war. After Corregidor , war movies and newsreels were shown at movie houses to show the news reports. Service men on leave were entertained by stage door canteens which consisted of dancers and girls while the Red Cross provided food and supplied the men with contacts. Many movie stars donated time, too. Many of the men met girls and married through this; this became known as the United Service Organization. Here in Indianapolis , several men were inducted at Fort Benjamin Harrison. On the home front, no cigarettes could be purchased by those not in the war. Life magazine stayed up best with the war; its latest happenings were only one or two weeks behind. Families could write to their loved ones, but the letters were condensed to small paper for mass delivery through bundles overseas. Return letters from members of the military were not permitted to contain any information about whereabouts, etc. All mail was censored and was made so small that it was barely readable. Some used codes to convey information passable through the censoring. No automobiles could be purchased at home because they all went into the military. No rubber tires could be purchased because the rubber went toward the military, too. All efforts focused on the military, including a mass production of war vessels. One ship was built each day at Henry Caiser shipyard in California . In Detroit , Ford motors built one b24 bomber each hour. Many fighter planes were built at a rapid rate. Everything was dedicated to the war production. That wouldn't happen today; not everyone could come together, again. In 1946, the resumption of automobiles started for the public. Before the war, the last year of automobile manufacturing for the public was 1941, but some 1942 models came out, though all were devoted to military use.
Q: Alcohol and various other common products became rare to the public at home?
A: No alcohol and no new tires were sold. People organized carpools to help with the gas problem. Even lipstick and hose became novelties.
Q: These common products went toward the military for use, also?
A: Leg make up was used by the women instead of nylons because they were used for the creation of parachutes. If a supply of nylon came in, a line clear around block at Ayres or other stores developed at lunchtime. Chocolate candy and chewing gum became rare. During high school, I worked at a gas station where gas was 19.9 cents for regular, and this price didn't change throughout my high school years. My wife's uncle brought chocolate candy and gum home from solider rations.
Q: Do you remember parents and families involved at home, with victory gardens or other methods?
A: Almost everybody had victory gardens. I was a boy scout who collected metal: steel, iron copper and brass. My father had made lamps which he hammered from artillery in tents at night during WWI. He worked in the motor section of the military. My brother Joe was a motor mechanic in the navy. Every family who had a member in the war had a flag on their front window to show family serving the country. The flags had stars representing the number of members in the military. If stars were gold, then the family members had died. Most who died were very young, in their 20's. Everybody had gardens where they grew tomatoes and corn. People sacrificed. She worked at the grocery. Ration stamps allowed so much for canned goods. Meat was especially hard to come by. When a shipment came in, she called her mother. Bacon cost 39 cents a pound. Rations existed for many items. Our families ate many soups with a little sausage and a lot of cottage and potatoes. Everything was used sparingly. She worked at a small mom and pop place where people would line up because supermarkets were not yet common.
Q: What do you remember about the ending of the war?
A: I sure do remember. In April 1945, the first victory occurred with the Germans' surrender; this was called VE Day. Great celebrations were everywhere. Those not in Europe had been sent to the Pacific where the U.S. dropped atomic bonds. This brought the real end to the war. The bombs were dropped on August 8, 1945 and August 10, 1945, and the Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945. Everybody celebrated in streets; paper carries ran announcing extras instead of the regular daily papers. The factory workers had made big bucks at plants. Women had never worked in manufacturing before. They had secretary jobs. Near us, RCA produced radars and other electronics; husbands worked all nights with lots of overtime. Many became wealthy. This is when the song Rosie the Riveter started. After the war, the men returned. And the women were laid off. Soldiers came back without limbs so the GI bill was created for the men to finish school. They didn't know what to do with all the men. They left without jobs, and companies no longer needed production of airplanes, tanks, or bombs after the war. As far as the Catholic Church was concerned, the pope became involved and took a stand against Nazis. He protected those persecuted in Italy and other nearby countries. Pope Pius of XII accused of harboring people, and he even admitted to protecting these citizens from the Nazis.