I was not born until 49 but I interviewed dozens of WWII Veterans when I wrote the book, "Reflections from the Great Depression and WWII." Yes many Veterans told me stories about just getting an apple or an orange for Christmas. My own mom worked on aircraft radar sets. She never told me until I interviewed her while I was writing the book. She worked on radar for Westinghouse Corp. for almost 4 years, on a 8-10 hour overlapping shift. 7 days a week. She NEVER took not even ONE day off, not even Christmas or New Years. She refused to let anyone else work her shift even when she was sick. I asked her why she never told me about the sacrifices she made during the war. She modestly replied, "You never asked!" She did not feel she did anything that special or out of the ordinary. She just said that, "Most of us were glad to do whatever we could to further the war effort. We were all one and one for all in America!" What a heartwarming time that must have been. That's why they are affectionately called, "The World's GREATEST GENERATION" till this day.

I was born that year so don't remember being involved in any collection, but my parents probably were. I do recall the horse-drawn wagons on the highway in the front of our house piled high with scrap metal of all kinds heading to the rail yard. I don't remember rationing. My father managed to bring home food from places he worked and we never went hungry.

There was plenty of milkweed in our cow pastures to be had. But my first memory of insulation for jackets and for life preservers was a substance called kapok, whatever that is? it certainly wasn't warm in jackets.

Ron

It was certainly a different time. I wonder how people would respond today?