What was the war like for the millions of American soldiers, sailors, and airmen who fought it? In this chapter you’ll hear their stories — oral histories recorded long after the fact but also stories as they were told at the time, in print, audio, and video. Additional materials — photographs, diagrams, maps, music, and army training manuals — will give you context.

Section Contents

• Primary Source: Enlisting for Service in World War II
• Primary Source: Basic Training in World War II
• Face to Face with Segregation: African American marines at Camp Lejune
• Primary Source: Black Soldiers on Racial Discrimination in the Army
• Music and Morale
• Primary Source: The Story of a B-17 crew
• Primary Source: Richard Daughtry on Surviving the Blitz
• Primary Source: James Wall on Serving in the Air Force
• Primary Source: Norma Shaver and Serving in the Pacific