Gallery: World War II on the Home Front

Those of us under 80 years of age have no memory of life during World War II. For those who experienced it, it was a time of uncertainty. Word of the fighting and the status of loved ones was often slow in arriving with delays due to limited news venues- only telephones, telegraphs, newspapers, mail, radio and Movietone News Reels were available at the time. The war years were also a time of sacrifice at home. Certain food items along with goods such as gasoline and tires were rationed to civilians so supplies could be channeled to support the military.

But the wartime era was also marked by newfound opportunities. As the traditional workforce shifted to military service, women and minorities assumed factory jobs, while others volunteered with organizations like the Red Cross or USO. Whole communities showed support for troops through fundraisers and material donations.

This gallery spotlights the Hattiesburg area during World War II. The scans were pulled from two scrapbooks donated to the HAHS museum by former Hattiesburg American reporter Sarah Gillespie; the scrapbooks cover the years from 1943 to 1945. Space does not allow us to share the entire Gillespie collection, but the items we've selected provide a sense of how those who remained at home pulled together to support the war effort while maintaining an atmosphere of normalcy for themselves, their families and their friends.

1944- Draft boards registered and selected men for military service — 1944- Draft boards registered and
selected men for military service

1944- Photos of local young men who joined military service — 1944- Photos of local young men who joined
military service were common in the war years

1943- Local Travelers Aid volunteers at the Front St. USO — 1943- Local Travelers Aid volunteers
at the Front St. USO

1943- Local garden club members beautify USO grounds — 1943- Local garden club members
contributed their talents

1943- The Kiwanis Club sponsors the Crippled Children's Clinic — 1943- Groups like the Kiwanis Club sponsored
events such as the Crippled Children's Clinic

1945- Local clothing drive collects garments for overseas shipment — 1945- Local clothing drives collected
garments for overseas shipment

1944- The local American Legion post collects gifts for children at Christmas — 1944- The local American Legion post collected
gifts for children at Christmas

1945- American Jr. Red Cross members send gift boxes to children in liberated European countries — 1945- American Jr. Red Cross members sent gift
boxes to children in liberated Eurpean countries

1943- Boy Scouts and Red Cross members collect books for distribution to service men — 1943- Boy Scouts and Red Cross members
collected books for distribution to service men

1945- Boy Scouts collect paper for reuse in the war effort — 1945- Boy Scouts were part of campaigns
to reuse paper for the war effort

1943- Girls step in when there was a shortage of newspaper boys — 1943- Girls stepped in when there
was a shortage of newspaper boys

1944- A downtown military parade helps raise funds for the war effort — 1944- Downtown military parades helped
raise funds for the war effort

1944- The Diana Shop sells the most e-bonds to help finance the war — 1944- Local businesses sold e-bonds
to help finance the war

1944- Local businesses sold e-bonds
to help finance the war

1945- The local Reliance Manufacturing Co. is recognized for outstanding production of war material — 1945- The local Reliance Manufacturing Co. was
recognized for outstanding production of war material

1944- Prentiss Pruitt makes concrete markers — 1944- City services continued in spite of the war

1943- The Forrest County Health Center opens — 1943- Forrest County found the resources to build
a much needed Health Center

1943- A former gas station is converted to a play school — 1943- Individuals found creative ways to
use available resources

1945- The new Girl Scout troop is created at Sacred Heart Academy — 1943- Children were kept busy through
groups like the Girl Scouts

1944- Children play at Camp Dantzler — 1944- Children found ways to
have fun even during wartime

1944- Soap Box Derby competitors — 1944- Local Soap Box Derbys were
a treat for children and adults

1945- Opening of new teenage canteen — 1945- Teens also had a place of their own

1945- Sacred Heart senior play — 1945- Extra-curricular activities continued
as part of school life

1945- Hattiesburg HIgh World War II monument — 1945- The HHS Class of 1944 memorialized fellow
students who were in the armed services
(on display at the Hattiesburg Cultural Center)

1943- F. H. McKenzie shows his catch from a fishing trip — 1943- Adults who remained at home
found ways to keep busy

1943- John Jackson & A. C. Steele at a golf tournament — 1943- If fishing wasn't your thing,
there was golf

1944- Thad Fowler at a livestock show — 1944- Livestock shows were a local staple

1945- Grace Christian cutting her birthday cake — 1945- And through it all,
there was still time to recognize
individuals who touched our lives

Did You Know...

The USO (United Services Organization) was created to provide morale and recreational services to U.S. military personnel. It was established by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt through a coalition of six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the YWCA, the National Catholic Community Service, the National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board.

Nurse Clara Barton and close associates founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. Barton first heard of the Swiss-inspired global Red Cross network while visiting Europe following the Civil War.

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