World War II: Diverse Experiences

Among many Americans, World War II is regarded as "The Good War," where the country banded together to fight obviously evil, racist, militarist aggressors. However, most Americans today are aware that in the 1940s, United States citizens did not share equal rights, privileges, and access to goods, resources, or opportunities. Indeed, during the war most American adults, including women, people of color, gay and lesbian people, and others were either prohibited from serving in U.S. military forces, or could only serve within limitations.

Nevertheless, they served. In the accompanying reading by Alan Berube, you will discover some of the paradoxes facing LGBTQ+ (a modern acronym) servicepersons as they served, despite prohibitions, in a variety of combat and support roles.

Women did more than free men from non-combat tasks. (Only a fraction of men in the military during World War II actually saw combat.) Women were important in several military roles, ranging from healthcare to cryptanalysis to aircraft maintenance. Here, we will explore the greater context of women's service, and in accompanying reading, you'll read firsthand accounts of some nurses who served in the Pacific War.

Though limited to segregated units, African Americans provided important non-combat labor in construction, transportation, supply, and human services. Black combat troops, though limited to a few units, fought in Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, and on Pacific Islands. Similarly, Japanese-American troops served in segregated units, while in many cases their families were incarcerated at home in "Relocation Centers," a euphemism for detention centers, or more controversially, concentration camps. Here, we will explore their experiences as well.

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