| For most Americans on the home front during World | | | | explosives. Rubber is one of the scarcest |
| War Two, the war years are a time of achievement | | | | commodities. When the salvage truck arrives, |
| as well as a time of uncertainty. It is also a time where | | | | Americans are ready to pitch in. Their discards will go |
| many learn to live with less in a land of plenty. Despite | | | | into the manufacturing of weapons. Children of all ages |
| the sacrifices endured by this notable generation, they | | | | take part in the salvage drives. It makes them feel like |
| made extraordinary contributions to help win the war | | | | they are doing their part and earning a penny a pound |
| and write the peace. | | | | doesn't hurt either! So zealous are these young |
| Rationing | | | | scrap-hunters that the government has a hard time |
| January 1942, the Office of Price Administration, OPA, | | | | handling the huge mass of materials they collect. In |
| is established to ration supplies that are needed for the | | | | fact, most of the materials collected are never used |
| war effort. Twenty essential commodities from sugar | | | | but it does continue to keep the morale high on the |
| to rubber to meat become strictly regulated. Ration | | | | home front. |
| books with designated point values are distributed to | | | | Women Enter The Work Force |
| every household. American women quickly learn how | | | | With some ten million men at war, the solution to fill the |
| to "get by." Careful planning becomes essential to | | | | jobs is both unexpected and obvious - Women! |
| make the available food supply last. Wartime recipes | | | | Crossing the complete spectrum of race, economic |
| are devised to help homemakers stretch their meals. | | | | class, and educational backgrounds, women take jobs |
| Delicacies such as franks and beans casserole | | | | never before thought appropriate or even possible for |
| become a family favorite. Only 2 pounds of meat per | | | | a woman to perform. The poster image of the |
| person is allotted each week. With inflationary prices | | | | woman in overalls, wrench in hand, becomes the |
| and a restricted market the OPA places ceilings on | | | | symbol of the new 1940's woman. "Rosie the Riveter" |
| prices. Volunteers visit shopkeepers to explain the | | | | will become one of the most enduring icons of the |
| need to display these signs. Without the restraint of | | | | war. With her powerful physic, perfect features and |
| both the consumer and the shopkeeper, inflation and | | | | gender-bending persona, "Rosie" encourages women |
| the black market could spin out of control. With very | | | | to roll up their sleeves and go to work. Women's |
| little gas available, the OPA requires the 8 million | | | | uniquely precise skills and attention to detail often |
| automobile owners to register for gas rationing. Of all | | | | surpass those of their male counterparts. Other male |
| the sacrifices Americans are asked to make gas | | | | concerns include family issues and future job security. |
| rationing is the least popular. Drivers have | | | | Despite the challenges at home and in the workplace, |
| classifications from "A" to "E." "A" ticket holders are | | | | women respond by doing their patriotic best. Whether |
| "pleasure drivers" and "E" ticket holders or | | | | they are motivated by propaganda, patriotism, |
| "emergency" drivers are fortunate enough to have | | | | economic benefits, independence or necessity, women |
| unlimited gas. | | | | join the work force at never before seen rates. In July |
| Victory Gardens | | | | 1944, when the war reaches its peak, 19 million women |
| To offset the food shortage, The Department of | | | | are employed. Without the contribution of women, |
| Agriculture urges Americans to plant their own | | | | America could not have won the war. |
| vegetables. They are dubbed "Victory Gardens." The | | | | Women In The Military |
| War Food Administration begins its campaign to | | | | To free more men for combat, in May of 1942 |
| encourage all Americans to grow, harvest, and share | | | | Congress creates the WAAC's -Women's Army |
| their bounty. Suddenly Americans all across the | | | | Auxiliary Corps. Some commanders are reluctant to |
| country grab their rakes and hoes and set in motion | | | | accept women into their units, but by mid-1943 the |
| the greatest voluntary movement the country has | | | | demand for them far exceed the numbers available. |
| ever known. Millions of small town backyards and city | | | | These women, eager to make their contribution, are |
| rooftop gardens begin to sprout up. Anywhere there is | | | | voluntarily recruited for non-combat duties at home |
| a parcel of land, you can find a victory garden. | | | | and overseas. The WAAC's are given Army pay, |
| Neighborhoods share vacant lots, taking turns working | | | | Army uniforms, Army discipline and Army training but |
| the garden. Canning centers emerge. At its peak in | | | | the jobs they perform are often those of support |
| 1944, over 20 million victory gardens produce a | | | | ranging from administrative roles to aircraft mechanics |
| phenomenal 8 million tons of food -over half of the | | | | to service at Aircraft Warning stations. In September |
| vegetables consumed in America. These extraordinary | | | | 1942, The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, |
| efforts make every American feel like they are striking | | | | WAFS, a division of the Army Air Force is created. |
| a personal blow against the Axis. In fact, they play a | | | | The original mission for these commercially licensed |
| major role in winning the war. | | | | pilots is to ferry light aircraft from the factory to the air |
| Scrap Drives | | | | fields. But soon, these "Fly Girls" are delivering fighters, |
| To supplement the raw materials essential for | | | | bombers and transports planes to military bases. |
| defense, Americans are asked to scour their garages | | | | During WWII, over 350,000 women don military |
| and attics for scrap metal, rubber and paper. Virtually | | | | uniforms. Which ever military branch they serve, their |
| all consumer goods have a second life. Food handlers | | | | contributions to the war effort earn them the respect |
| are urged to save kitchen fat which is used to make | | | | they deserve. |