Sixty-five years ago, the small town of Cape Elizabeth was doing its part in the war effort. This column is a continuation of last week’s look at some of those efforts.

The Cape Elizabeth Mothers Club began a newsletter to be sent to all servicemen and women from Cape Elizabeth. A portion of one of the newsletters begins, “On this October day the Cape is beautiful. he swamps and marshes are glowing with color and the higher lands are bronze and gold. Few leaves have fallen; some are still green. But not for long, temperatures are falling to 30A?o. Crisp air, blue sea and sky, and the call of migrating birds make the Cape perfect in its most perfect season.”

Mrs. Alonzo S. Murray goes on to write, “The farmers are winding up a busy season, one filled with problems: gas shortage, man shortage, machine shortage. But all ends with bumper crops. College girls, a Woman’s Land Army, stepped in to ease the labor shortage and the season ends with lots of fun and a sincere desire to come again next year. Maybe some will come permanently.”

Other comments were made about the “greatly increased enrollments in the lower grades, the town hall houses about two hundred pupils with plenty of room for games and races. At the high school the enrollment is smaller than usual, Junior and Senior boys are daily becoming ‘Servicemen.’ Every house has its little service flag with stars representing some who will seem to you, just little boys. Our present number will soon reach the two hundred mark. “

Also included is the request for the recipients to drop a card to Mrs. Murray: “If there are any special items about you, won’t you share them with us? Have you questions you would like answered? Just drop a line to Mrs. Murray (who included her home address). We think of you all; we’d like to write just what you’d like to know.”

By spring of 1942 a mobilized country was costing the government about $100 million a day. On the home front Americans were asked to help finance the war not only by paying their taxes, but also by buying war bonds.

To promote the purchase of war bonds, schools nationwide set up tables to provide a means to purchase Defense Savings Stamps in several denominations as low as 25 cents each. Stamps were placed in a book that, when completed, totaled $18.75, the purchase price for a war bond worth $25 at its maturity 10 years later. Other war bonds were available at the $50 maturity rate on up to $100 and $1,000.

Periodic air-raid drills were held in schools with the students exiting classrooms to stand in corridors away from the windows so they would be protected from flying glass, etc., in the event of an attack.

Posters were produced in many forms warning that “Loose Lips Might Sink Ships,” a reference to not discussing work at the shipyards or spreading rumors of troop movements either on land or sea. “Buy War Bonds” was another frequently seen image.

“Rosie The Riveter” became the symbol of all the women in the work force who took over jobs in the shipbuilding, plane manufacturing, vehicle production or weapons and ammunitions factories.

The USO (United Services Organization) was organized in 1941 with its first performance at March Field, Calif., May 6 that year with an eye toward providing entertainment for servicemen presently stationed around the country.

Entertainer Bob Hope performed at that first gathering, a commitment he continued to make for the next 50 years throughout the world whenever and wherever our troops were deployed.

Movie theaters in larger cities remained open on a 24-hour basis so night shift workers could enjoy a relaxing couple of hours to unwind. All patrons stood as the national anthem was played before the first film began. The usual format was showing a B movie followed by a news reel, “Movietone News, the Eyes and Ears of the World,” providing recent war news for a few minutes before the feature film was shown.

British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill made famous his “V for Victory” gesture shortly after his country entered the war, a symbol that became famous on this side of the Atlantic as well. In Morse code the designation was V followed by three dots and a dash.

Newspaperman Ernie Pyle kept the reading public informed of goings on in the Pacific. Cartoonist Bill Mauldin’s illustrations of Willie and Joe depicted sometimes severe conditions the troops were forced to endure throughout the war. Both men were favorites of the troops they lived with on a daily basis.

Early in the morning of May 7, 1945, an officer of the German high command entered Allied headquarters in Reims, France, and on behalf of his government signed the terms of unconditional surrender halting the war in Europe. Three months later the Japanese followed suit.

When news bulletins interrupted radio programs to announce victory in the Pacific on Aug. 14, 1945, people around the world stopped whatever they were doing and rushed to the nearest town square, big city or other gathering places to celebrate. Friends, neighbors and strangers alike danced in the streets waving flags in jubilation.

A second unconditional surrender agreement was signed Sept. 2, 1945, as representatives of Japan agreed to the terms. The formal ceremony took place aboard the battleship USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay. President Harry Truman proclaimed the date as V-J Day (Victory over Japan).

Occupation troops were stationed for a number of years in several countries in Europe as well as on mainland Japan and the nearby islands formerly controlled by that country.

Three years, eight months and 22 days after the debacle at Pearl Harbor peace was at hand at last and the troops would be coming home.

Across America, the housing market saw a tremendous jump in new construction. New automobiles were again produced in Detroit and many women remained in the work force as the country recovered.

New housing construction also occurred in Cape Elizabeth. Many families of those formerly stationed at military installations nearby chose to make their homes here, resulting in a slow but steady population increase in the ensuing years.

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