WWII history comes alive — for a little longer

The living room vignette brings to life the idea of hearing breaking news over the radio that Pearl Harbor had come under attack. Donald Smith of Anoka heard the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and President Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech on this radio. He enlisted in the Navy and served with the Seabees in the Pacific Theatre.

Soup mix used by Carol Syring during his service in WWII as a mechanic.

By Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, Anoka County Historical Society

December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy ...

Those words committed the U.S. and Anoka County to a conflict that became known as World War II, changing the face of warfare and politics forever. That war still holds tightly to our memories, even as the “greatest generation” continues to slip away.

The United States’ involvement in WWII spanned a little more than four years (late 1941-1945) and affected nearly 18 million troops and their families. One item on display at the Anoka County Historical Society in our WWII exhibit is a huge flag presented to Anoka County for selling the most war bonds in the state during the third bond drive. It comes with a wonderful story — and boasts dimensions of nearly 6 feet by 10 feet. The exhibit also contains uniforms from soldiers who served in all branches of the war. From outerwear to underwear, and sometimes even with secret, embroidered decorations on the inside, these are the pieces of clothing service members wore as they left Anoka County for war. These items tell us many stories about their donors and really help bring that person’s story and memory to life for museum visitors.

Want to hear the residents of Anoka County recall their experiences first hand? ACHS has captured some voices through our Oral History program, and you can enjoy them in the exhibit hall as well. Still want more? Any of the more than 30 interviews in our WWII oral history collection are yours to explore upon request. Some transcripts tell stories of lives changed by military service like Audrey “Pat” Johnson. She remembers leaving her home in Northfield and heading to New York City for training after she enlisted with the Navy. Following her training, Johnson kept the books and tracked supplies at a Naval Air Station in Iowa. Other transcripts provide a dose of humor, like Glen Lindstrom. He told the officer trying to assign him to a gunnery division that the only thing he knew about guns was that, “They’re dangerous.” Still others are poignant and remind us how frightening war truly is, like Richard Sorenson. Surrounded by enemy troops and taking heavy fire, Sorenson threw himself on a grenade to protect 15 wounded comrades ... and fortunately lived to tell the tale.

Although many stories of war battles can be told, the main story for most Anoka County residents was their life on the home front. Just what did everyone do here while the soldiers went off to fight? By highlighting the men and women who served, we can focus the exhibit around their families who stayed behind to work and support the war effort, bolstering their loved one many miles away. We can talk about collections of scrap to donate, growing Victory Gardens, and selling war bonds. We have a pair of socks knitted for the soldiers that followed an “approved” pattern and can discuss the many women in the county who went to work at Federal Cartridge and Northern Pump, filling in the much needed labor force with so many men away fighting.

The WWII exhibit will close this winter, so make plans to see it quick before it’s gone!

Rebecca Ebnet-Desens is the executive director of the Anoka County Historical Society.