World War II

Fort Des Moines is a military installation in Des Moines, Iowa. During World War I, the fort served as the first and only training site for African American officers. During World War II, Fort Des Moines was the first training site for the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), and the only training site for WAC and WAAC officers.

Alva B. Johnson WWII Navy Veteran

From the lives of young, immigrant women who worked the textile mills at Lowell National Historic Park to those of the female shipyard workers who were essential to the home front during World War II at Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park, women’s history can be found at every park. If you want to understand our nation’s history, explore the remarkable legacies of American women.

World War II brought widespread attention to physical fitness and disability across the US. As part of the military’s mobilization, all drafted and enlisted men had to undergo physical and psychiatric examinations to assess their fitness for war. About 19 million American men were drafted, but nearly half of them didn’t make the cut. Explore some of the reasons behind the draft’s rejection rate of over 40% as well as some of the factors that disqualified people from service.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., was born in Washington, D.C. in 1912. He graduated from West Point in 1936. He was the fourth African American to graduate from West Point. During World War II, he led the renowned Tuskegee Airmen. He attained the rank of four-star general in 1998. He died in 2002 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Did you know that the Tuskegee Airmen included women? Sergeant Amelia Jones worked for two years during WWII in the 99th Pursuit Squadron under Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, commander of the Tuskegee Airmen. She was honored for her service in 2014.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Paterson, New Jersey, an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson includes readings helping students understand the challenges African Americans in Paterson encountered on the home front, as well as some of their contributions. The lesson examines challenges at the vocational school, acknowledgement of local African American service members, and tolerance talks among faith leaders.

This lesson is part of a series teaching about the World War II home front, with Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia designated as an American World War II Heritage City. The lesson examines three examples of local civilian contributions on the home front: paid industry work at the Savannah Quartermaster Depot, volunteerism within civilian defense, and scrap and salvage drives. The extension is a case study to consider ethical implications of wartime development.

Four lessons support the development of understanding the significance of Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia designated as an American World War II Heritage City. Highlights include shipbuilding and defense industries, the Armed Forces presence at Hunter Field, and civilian home front contributions in both paid and volunteer work. The lessons highlight specific contributions but connect to larger themes and understandings of the U.S. home front during WWII.

This is a series of lesson plans about the WWII home front, focused on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains primary and secondary sources readings, photographs, statistics and other resources, as well as questions for students to consider. The lessons highlight specific contributions of the people of Pittsburgh, and they connect to the larger themes and understanding of the US home front during wartime.