(H)our History Lesson: Civilian Defense and Volunteer Contributions in Pascagoula, Mississippi, World War II Heritage City

“America calling--Take your place in civilian defense--Consult your nearest defense council.” The poster contains a civil defense symbol. Government Printing Office, 1941.

Credit: Library of Congress

About this Lesson

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Pascagoula, Mississippi designated as an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains primary source readings and photographs to contribute to learners’ understandings about the civilian defense and volunteer contributions of Pascagoula community members. Efforts included sharing information about air raids and safety, organizing civilian defense corps training, and a harbor patrol.

For more World War II lessons, visit Teaching with Historic Places.

Objectives:

1. Describe the purpose of the Civilian Defense Corps and its impact in Pascagoula

2. Explain why Pascagoula needed to take extra safety precautions, based on geographic location and wartime assets

3. Identify ways women contributed to civilian defense and volunteer efforts

Materials for Students:

1. Photos (can be displayed digitally)

2. Readings 1, 2, 3 (three primary)

3. Recommended: Map of Pascagoula, Mississippi

Getting Started: Essential Question

How did citizens of Pascagoula contribute to civilian home front defense efforts?

Read to Connect

Reading 1: "What to Do in an Air-Raid"

What to Do in An Air-Raid  

(Official – by U.S. Office of Civil Defense) 

The Pascagoula Chronicle-Star; December 19, 1941, p.1 

1. KEEP COOL. Do not lose your head. 

2. STAY HOME. The safest place in an air-raid is at home. 

3. PUT OUT THE LIGHTS. If planes come over, put out or cover the lights at once. DON’T WAIT FOR THE BLACK-OUT ORDER. 

4. LIE DOWN. If bombs start to fall near you, lie down. 

5. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. Do not go to windows and look out. It is a dangerous thing to do, and helps the enemy. 

6. YOU CAN HELP by volunteering for the following services: 

   1. Air-Raid Wardens (men and women) 
   2. Auxiliary Firemen (men) 
   3. Auxiliary police (men and women)
   4. Fire watchers (men and women) 
   5. Nurses aid (trained women) 
   6. Emergency medical forces (men and women with Red Cross first aid certificates) 
   7. Rescue Squads (men) 
   8. Road Repair United (strong husky men) 
   9. Demolition and Clearance Squads (strong husky men) 
   10. Electrical Repair Units (trained electricians) 
   11. Decontamination Squads (strong men and women) 
   12. Emergency Food and Housing Units (women who can cook and serve) 

The above common sense practical rules have been laid down by the Office of Civil Defense for our protection. Please cooperate with your local Civil Protection Unit, by insisting that every member of your family and your neighbor and neighbor’s family carry out these rules to the letter. If you cooperate and put out your lights, while your neighbor leaves a light burning, then the entire neighborhood is exposed. Therefore, it is your duty as an American citizen to insist on your neighbor’s compliance and it is likewise your duty to report to the proper authority in our Civil Protection Unit such failure or failures to observe these plain, common-sense rules and regulations. . . . 

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS NOW – Regular drill periods Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights, beginning at 7:30 sharp at Pascagoula High School Grounds (If raining, at High School Gymnasium). 

L.L. Stigler, Captain 

Civil Protection Unit, Pascagoula, Miss. 

Reading 2: "People Must Prepare Civil Protection"

People Must Prepare Civil Protection or Bow to Japanese 

Where Citizens Are Organized There is Less Danger of Losing War or Suffering Damage Says Officer 

The Pascagoula Chronicle-Star, March 24, 1942, p. 6 

General Douglas MacArthur was able to withstand continued assaults on Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines, only because he has previously prepared his positions before withdrawing there, the leaders of the Pascagoula Citizens Defense Corps were told by Major J. E. Breth, at their meeting held last Thursday night in the Firemen’s Hall. Speaking on the necessity of every leader having his defense unit, well-trained alert and well-organized, Major Breth told his listeners that if we in the United States prepared ourselves, we will be able to protect ourselves against enemy attacks. 

Major Breth told his listeners that the shores of the United States from one end to the other are open to attack. It is foolish to believe that we cannot and will not be attacked by the Japanese and its Axis partners. These enemies of ours are out to win the war and they will stop at no means to do so, and unless we are prepared to meet these attacks we may find ourselves ruled by the Axis . . . 

He stated that Pascagoula and other ports of the Mississippi Coast are among the most vulnerable spots of the American shore line for an attack. ...He stated that it would be easy for a submarine to approach the shores of the Mississippi Coast and send six-inch shells screaming through the air to strike their defense objectives or perhaps miss their marks and land in the residential or business sections.  

He stated that if the civilian protection organization is functioning there will be less danger of loss of life and property when one of these attacks takes place. The danger will be lessened because the citizens will be organized and will know what to do and as the result, we will be able to recuperate and readjust ourselves easier and much quicker. That was one of the secrets of MacArthur’s success at Bataan, the ability of his men to snap back after withering attacks.  

Speaking of the possibility and likelihood of Pascagoula being attacked he stated that not only could a submarine come in close to shore for shelling, but ships can bring planes in the near vicinity, and release them to bomb the shipyard and other objectives of military importance here. 

He stated that ship construction program and the manufacture of supplies and instruments of war must be rushed at top speed. We need the ships to get the supplies and equipment to the men on the front. Everything to fight this war with must come from this country.  . . . It will take all of us to accomplish something in the way of winning the war and we must see that the men keep up their work. Everybody and every job ties in to help win this war. . . . 

Reading 3: "Big Response to Block System, Survey Job Call"

Big Response to Block System, Survey Job Call  

The Chronicle-Star, May 5, 1944, p.1 

Pascagoula women responded of the call to take part in a joint recruiting service for the Women’s Service Corps of the U.S., which includes WAC, WAVE, Marine and SPAR corps, at the USO Monday evening, in such force that it was necessary to move the session from the club room where it was started, to the lounge in order to accommodate the crowd. 

The meeting was opened by Mrs. J.O. Cole, president of the Civic Council, who had been appointed by Mayor W.R. Gulley to start a woman-power survey in Pascagoula, and by Mrs. T.T. Justice, who had been appointed leader, or over-all chairman for the district and block chairmen who will conduct the survey with the assistance of volunteer women of the city. 

As was stated in the Chronicle-Star of last Friday, Mississippi is the first state to carry out a woman-power survey for the purpose of finding prospects for the women’s division of the armed forces.  

This will function as a Prospects committee for the Women’s Service Committee. The system under which it will work is known as the OCD, and will greatly minimize the work of individual volunteers, and should be valuable not only during the present survey, but in future campaigns.  

Literature and application blanks were distributed.  

In connection with the survey, a strong appeal was made by Mrs. S. B. McIlwain for nurses for the U.S. Nursing corps, which is vitally in need of trained women.  

Mrs. Cole also called attention to the coming blood-donor bank and urged that volunteers help the Pascagoula unit in passing the 1000th pint quota which should be filled by Friday afternoon. It was announced that the bank was to be held Thursday and Friday of this week at the USO. Thursday was known as Ingalls’ Day, and was open only to employees of the shipbuilding corporation. The hours Friday will be from 10 until 3 o’clock. Volunteers are called for blood donations. These may contact Mrs. Cole at the USO on that day for an appointment. 

“Home safety is front line defense Conserve – protect / / Wagner.” The poster promotes safety at home as a civil defense measure. N.Y.C.: N.Y.C. W.P.A. War Services, [between 1941 and 1943].

Credit: Library of Congress

Quotation to consider:

“Mrs. L. K. McIntosh, chairman of the Woman’s Civilian Defense Organization of Jackson County, is urging every woman of Jackson County who has not enrolled for Civilian Defense to enroll now and start training for their part in this important program. Every loyal American woman of the country should volunteer her services for the duration of the war, Mrs. McIntosh said. . . . Jackson County must not lag behind in preparing for Civilian Defense. We are on the Coast. Our position is definitely vulnerable. Enrollment facilities are within the reach of every patriotic man and woman.”

- “Women Requested to Register for Civilian Defense,” Pascagoula Chronicle-Star, January 23, 1942, p.8)

By the numbers:

• Over 500 citizens of Pascagoula attended a program to learn about Civilian Defense at a community meeting on Thursday, December 11, 1941. This was four days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Shared in The Pascagoula Chronicle-Star, Dec. 19, 1941, p.16)

• 200 volunteers were needed for decontamination and road repair squads for the civilian defense unit in Pascagoula, to prepare for any bombing or gun fire. (Shared in The Pascagoula Chronicle-Star, April 14, 1942, p.1)

“Train to be a nurse’s aide” poster – The poster was made by NYC WPA War Services between 1941 and 1943 to encouraging women to become nurses' aides for the Civilian Defense Volunteer Office, showing women in civilian dress and nurse's uniforms.

Credit: Library of Congress

Student Activities:

Questions for Reading 1

1. Look at a map and the location of Pascagoula, Mississippi. Consider the location and industries there. What risks were there for attack?
2. The attack on Pearl Harbor was on December 7, 1941. This article was published on December 19, 1941. Why would air raid safety information be distributed in the newspaper?
3. What were some of the volunteer roles needed for the civilian defense corps?

• Notice the designation of men and/or women for specific roles. How do you think these traditional gender designations were challenged during the war, and into postwar society? Why is this important to carefully consider when looking at historical sources?

4. Connect to the Quotation to Consider: Why would women be a targeted audience for civilian defense recruitment? What angles are used to convince women to volunteer?

Questions for Reading 2

1. What arguments did Major Breth have for why Mississippi Coast cities such as Pascagoula may be vulnerable to attack?
2. How could civilian protection organizations help with safety, according to Major Breth?
3. Why did Major Breth also share about ship construction? How did the timely production of ships tie into the broader goal of supporting the military and home front safety?

Questions for Reading 3

1. What is the purpose of a woman-power survey for the women’s division of the armed forces? What was its significance to Mississippi?
2. How may this survey have impacted future surveys and women in the armed forces?
3. What other needs were described in the article that women, and workers from Ingalls shipbuilding corporation, may contribute to?
4. What would be the impact of recruitment efforts and the blood-donor bank on a.) the community of Pascagoula, and b.) home front efforts to support U.S. and Allied troops?

Extension: Learn more about the Cadet Nurse Corps and Military Nurses During World War II .

Extension: Additional Reading

Reading: Harbor Patrol

An additional way civilians volunteered in Pascagoula was with a Harbor Patrol.  

Naval Recognition Given to Pascagoula Harbor Patrol 

Local Civilian Defense Unit is First of Its Kind in Nation to be Considered as U.S. Navy Auxiliary. 

The Chronicle-Star, March 13, 1942; p. 1 

In a letter received from Lieutenant-Commander McKeen of the Eighth Naval District, the newly reorganized Pascagoula Harbor patrol was endorsed by the United States Navy and asked to serve as an auxiliary unit to the United States Coast Guard during emergencies. 

The Pascagoula Harbor Patrol was organized in November 1941 with eighteen members under the leadership of Police Chief A.W. Exell, and thus became the first organization of its kind known to be active in the country. It was reorganized on Monday night at a meeting in the high school with an approximate number of forty. . . . 

Through the courtesy of the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, a portable fire unit is to be purchased for use by the Patrol or Coast Guard boards in fighting possible river front fires and to protect boats on the river. 

All members of the Harbor Patrol will be registered by the Federal Government and are asked to attend all meetings which will be devoted to the study of harbor conditions, boating, and complete first aid instruction. Meetings will be held each Monday night at the City Hall, beginning March 16th, from 8 to 9 P.M. 

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This lesson was written by Sarah Nestor Lane, an educator and consultant with the Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, funded by the National Council on Public History's cooperative agreement with the National Park Service.