Primary Source Set

World War II, Part 2: North Carolina After Pearl Harbor

After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II, leading to inevitable change for the nation and for the state of North Carolina. This part of the World War II lesson uses photographs, newspaper articles, scrapbooks, and correspondence to illustrate the significant social and economic effects of the Second World War on North Carolina.

Time Period

1941-1945

Grade Level

Undergraduate

Transcript

Kings Mountain, N.C. September, 30, 1943 Hello Buddy: It is Autumn in the Carolinas - an a beautiful Autumn it is, too, Fellows: the cotton fields are white, the corn has been shocked, the pumpkins have turned yellow, muscadines are ripe, the persimons need only a frost to ripen them and these old hills and hollows are a riot of colors. I just finished sharpening up the axe for the Old Lady so that she wouldn’t have to work too hard getting in the winters supply of wood, but danged if I don’t believe she is going to make me pick cotton in spite of my rheumatism. Strange indeed are the Thoughts of Man. We are well past the 3,000 mark in mailing letters to you fellows and an analysis of your reaction to the “Old Mountaineer” produced that first sentence. There is a gang of you who write me faithfully every month, some write me to tell me of a promotion, some write me every time they move, some write me about once a year and some don’t write at all. Well, they say that it takes all kinds to make an Army, so by gosh we must have an Army! And speaking of writing, from out in the Wilds of Utah, Pfc. Robt. O. Hord writes and claims that I am his “Uncle”. Here’s the way he figures it out: “I must be some relation since no one except a poor relation writes as often as I do without receiving a reply. I’m not his Father since I never send him any money. I couldn’t possibly be his Mother or I would ask him when he is going to get a furlough. I am most certainly not his Brother as brothers never write. My letters definitely do not smell of perfume so I can’t be his Sister. All his Grandparents on both sides are dead. He definitely wasn’t around here when I was born, so I can’t be his Son. Therefore he calls me “Uncle” as that is as close a relation as he can figure out without making me mad.” Well, Bobbie, if “Uncle Sam” can put up with you, I guess I can bear up under the extra burden - at least for the Duration. From “Somewhere in a Hospital” John Royster writes to describe very vividly how he got fit in 36 places. Thanks for that good letter John and we’ll be looking for you home on a furlough wearing that Purple Heart. I think that some of those who have been contributing of their Time and Energy to the production of “The Old Mountaineer” want some recognition - so here goes the inside story of one issue: During the first three weeks of the month, I jot down various items that I think might be of interest to you and along about the end of the third week, I get them together in letter form. It is then given to Paul Mauney for him to Censor. Following that, it is rewritten and the finished product taken to Ethel Roberts so that she can cut stencils. She usually “Bitches” a bit and leaves me thinking that she just can’t possibly finish them inside of a week - but I notice that she always puts aside all other work and in a couple of hours brings me the finished stencils. Broadus Moss and Luther Cansler then sweat over the job of Mimeographing the 275 copies. Meanwhile all the Boss men have been given the names of the fellows who didn’t let us know their change of address and they try to find your new address. (You see we get about a dozen letters back each month. Letters that were sent to your last address but didn’t reach You).

Letters to Service Men, World War II

During World War II, a Kings Mountain factory called Neisler Mills established a newsletter program for Neisler Mills workers who were serving in the war. The newsletter, sent from a writer who signed off as “The Old Mountaineer,” provided updates about the mill and its employees. Some letters include responses from the servicemen who received the newsletter. Pictured here is the first part of a letter sent to the servicemen in September of 1943.

Contributed to DigitalNC by Mauney Memorial Library

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Kings Mountain, N.C. (Cleveland County, Gaston County)

World War II, Part 2: North Carolina After Pearl Harbor

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Background

World War II had raged on for two years when Japanese forces unexpectedly attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. While the United States had remained a neutral force during the early years of the war, it was the attack on Pearl Harbor that drew the nation, and North Carolina, into the conflict.

Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States prepared itself for potential hostilities. On September 18, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Training and Service Act. This law, better known as the “draft,” required American men between the ages of 21 and 35 to register for military service. Around 362,500 people from North Carolina served in the war, most of whom were drafted. 69,000 of that number were Black North Carolinians, along with 7,000 North Carolinian women. The United States also prepared for war by building and expanding military bases, particularly in North Carolina. Already-established installations like Fort Bragg experienced rapid growth in both construction and population. The expansion of sites like Fort Bragg made North Carolina the top state in training the most military personnel during World War II. 

While American soldiers trained in military bases and began to join in the fighting overseas, regular citizens had to adjust to a new life at home. War led to substantial changes in the economy and in everyday life for North Carolinians. The scarcity of certain goods, like sugar, caused the government to force citizens to ration. Factories and textile mills across North Carolina also experienced change as they shifted to producing materials for the war. Many of the workers in these factories were women, who increasingly joined the workforce to fill the positions left behind by men who were drafted or enlisted in the armed forces. Though rationing and increased production aided the war effort, the United States continued to seek out support for their military by promoting and selling war bonds to citizens. 

Four years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the war came to an end. United States forces used two atomic bombs to attack the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945. Japan officially surrendered soon after, marking the end of the war on September 2, 1945. Although the conflict was over, World War II made a lasting impact on North Carolina. The primary sources in this collection demonstrate the social and economic effects of the Second World War on the state and exhibit some of the contributions that North Carolinians made to the war effort.

Discussion Questions

  1. Consider the “It’s Here – Let’s Face It” article about the United States’ entry into World War II. Why do you think the article encourages university students to focus on their education?

  2. In the award letter from Robert P. Patterson, Firestone Mills received an “excellent” rating for the war materials they produced. Why do you think these awards encouraged war factories like Firestone to increase the quality and quantity of their production?

  3. Look at the photograph of the honor roll monument and at the pages of the Alamance County Boys in Service scrapbook. Describe any reasons the creator(s) of each source may have had to create these materials. Do the two sources share any themes?

  4. North Carolina held many German prisoners of war (POWs) during World War II. In the article from The Gates County Index, a North Carolina congressman visits a prison of war camp at Ahoskie. What kind of concerns did the local people have about the German prisoners? Why did they have these concerns?

  5. World War II brought social and economic change to North Carolina, but it also caused the deaths of 7,000 North Carolina servicemembers. In what ways do you think World War II is remembered or perceived by North Carolinians today?

This primary source set was compiled by Isabella Walker.

Updated January 2025