Skip to Main Content

Voices of War: Stories of Service from the Home Front and the Front Lines

Chapter Five: World War II Home Front

The Second World War created a homefront culture unlike any other in this nation’s history. There were soldiers, trained and primed to confront the enemy, who never got the call to go overseas. And there were homefront workers and wives who made their own sacrifices to winning the war. Please note: page numbers refer to the pages in "Voices of War" on which the veteran appears.

One Woman's Story - Meda Hallyburton Brendall

Image of Meda Montana Hallyburton Brendall

In 1941, Baltimore’s Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards was in desperate need of qualified workers. They accepted the application of a 30-year-old single mother from North Carolina. When Meda Montana Hallyburton showed up for work in the mostly male preserve of the shipyard, her new bosses quickly found out that they were dealing with a woman who knew—and spoke—her mind.
(featured on pages 5244-247)

Learn more about Meda Hallyburton Brendall

“We were let down—we really thought we were going to fight the enemy.”
– Walter Morris

Additional Veterans Featured in Chapter Five

Image of Clare Marie Morrison Crane

"Seeing all the other fellows ... with their girls made me so darn lonesome ... that I just up and left."

Clare Marie Morrison Crane's story
(pages  216, 230, 231-238)

Image of Marion Reh Gurfein

"Goofeins Celebrate 3rd Year of Marriage. 'Does This Last Year Count?' Queries Famous Beauty."

Marion Reh Gufein's story
(pages 226, 227, 228, 229, 238-243)

Image of Walter Morris

"We ... focused ... on proving that colored troops were no different than white troops."

Walter Morris' story
(pages 218, 219-224)

Image of Marie Brand Voltzke

"How did I feel through all of this? Scared to death, naturally..."

Marie Brand Voltzke's story
(pages 223, 224-225)