On the Homefront

Assan Beach, the 2,500-yard shoreline stretching between Punta Adilok (Adelup Point) and Punta Assan (Asan Point), which the Marines in World War II called a "pair of devil horns," is a poignant symbol of the Guam's complex history, blending indigenous CHamoru traditions, wartime struggle, and ongoing military presence. In many ways, the story of Guam can be read through the story of Assan Beach. Talk a walk through history at Assan Beach.

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.

Dr. Margaret “Mom” Chung was the first Chinese American woman to become a physician. She founded one of the first Western medical clinics in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1920s. During World War II, she and her widespread network of “adopted sons,” most of them American soldiers, sailors, and airmen who called her “Mom,” became famous. Although she faced prejudice because of her race, gender, and sexuality, Dr. Chung forged a distinctive path throughout her life.

This lesson is part of a series about the World War II home front in Tempe, Arizona American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains readings and photos to contribute to learners’ understandings about the role of civilian contributions on the home front in Tempe: in agriculture, volunteerism, and financial support of the war efforts.

Learn more about Tempe, Arizona, a designated World War II Heritage City by comparing it to other Heritage Cities and thinking about larger themes on the World War II Home Front.

These four lessons support understanding the significance of Tempe, Arizona-an American World War II Heritage City. Highlights of the first two listed lessons include military training, education, civilian contributions, and volunteerism. The third lesson shares on the Papago Park German prisoner-of-war camp in Tempe, which became well-known for a large prisoner escape. All lessons highlight specific contributions and connect to larger home front themes with primary sources.

Faced with having to feed an expanded military and a hungry population, the US government reintroduced the idea of War Gardens from World War I. They rebranded them as Victory Gardens for World War II. World War II Victory Gardens were grown on farms, in backyards, on city rooftops, in window-boxes, on public lands, and in vacant lots.

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.

Pending

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.