Although World War II began as a war in Europe, many in the United States, foreseeing the inevitable, began to prepare for war, putting no faith in the Neutrality Act. Preparations for war, essentially ending the Great Depression, affected the entire country, with Virginia particularly playing a major role. More than one million service men and women came to Virginia. The sheer scope of the military development in Virginia of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force, providing training bases and support facilities, underscores the national resolve to be prepared. The book includes the Civil Air Patrol, wartime industry, POW camps, U–boat attacks, the Beach Patrol and other Virginia-related topics.

Joseph P. Freitus is a retired educator living in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Joseph P. Freitus

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 208
Bibliographic Info: 27 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7966-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1542-4
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments viii
One. The Approach of War 1
Two. The Naval Bases 11
Three. The Army Bases 38
Four. The Coast Guard 67
Five. The Submarine War 75
Six. The Home Front 86
Seven. Women at War 112
Eight. African Americans 133
Nine. The Civil Air Patrol 144
Ten. The POWs 149
Eleven. The ’44 Hurricane 162
Twelve. War Stories 166
Appendix One. Military Museums in Virginia 181
Appendix Two. Virginia’s Military Installations, 1938–1945 184
Appendix Three. Historical Resources 187
Chapter Notes 191
Bibliography 194
Index 197

“well-researched and interesting…highly recommended”—H-Net Reviews