Robert C. Freeman | Exhibition Curator and Director of The Saints At War Project | Brigham Young University
The exhibition Remembering World War II: Pearl Harbor and Beyond looks at the stories of men and women during WWII. Virtually every aspect of human experience was impacted by the war in some way. Families were separated, rationing of food and other items like gasoline was introduced, and women assumed new roles. No war produced more bloodshed and devastation than World War II. Over 50 million people died in the conflict and entire nations were in ruin at its conclusion.
Many of the soldiers of WWII were the sons of soldiers of WWI which ended twenty years prior to the beginning of the Second World War. These fathers understood the horrors of war that their sons would experience. Despite this, they honored and encouraged their sons’ desires to serve their nation. Many young men enlisted rather than waiting to be drafted. Willingly, they put family, schooling and professions on hold as they entered military service.
For the United States, World War II began and ended in the Pacific. The event that plunged the nation into the War was the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. The surprise attack on that infamous Sunday morning in Hawaii left the United States Navy in shambles. For over a year the United States clawed her way back from the devastating blow. One of the keys to the United States’ recovery from Pearl Harbor was the capacity of America’s manufacturers to swing into high gear and essentially rebuild the Naval Fleet. For the entirety of the war, U.S. industry turned out to be the story behind the eventual victory.
Scholars and historians generally divide World War II into the European and Pacific conflicts. The Pacific War is remembered for battles like Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In Europe, the battle names differed, but the violence was the same. Battles such as the famous D-Day Invasion at Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Berlin are remembered in war annals as key in the march across Europe. While less has been written in World War II histories about places like Northern Africa and the vast areas of India-Burma-China, fighting in these regions was also terrible.
American leadership proved to be decisive in several of the key campaigns. Generals Bradley, Eisenhower, and Patton became larger-than-life heroes in the conflict in Europe while leaders such as General MacArthur and Admirals Halsey and Nimitz presided just as impressively over the fight in the Pacific. Also Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Josef Stalin were watched closely worldwide as they promoted victory for the Allied forces. They were featured regularly in radio news programming and in newsreels shown in movie theaters. Other leaders who became household names were the political and military leaders of the Axis powers. Hitler, Tojo, and Mussolini grabbed newspaper headlines daily and became despised names to the Allies.
World War II was a war filled with heroes — both the prominent and the little-known. Most acts of bravery and courage escaped notoriety amidst the daily rigors of fighting. Some distinguished heroes were remembered with medals like the Silver and Bronze Stars, the Army’s Distinguished Cross, the Navy Cross, and the highest commendation — the Medal of Honor (sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor). Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, captain of the battleship the USS West Virginia, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Captain Bennion lost his life at Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941 trying to protect his men and his ship. He valiantly directed his men and watched over his ship until he died on the ship’s deck. The medal commemorating his heroism is displayed in this exhibition. Another medal, the Purple Heart, was awarded to those who experienced combat related injuries. While many of these were awarded posthumously, others’ wounds were successfully treated by the field medical corps. These nurses and doctors often volunteered to leave comfortable homes to lend their vital skills to the military. For example, Dr. E. Wayne Stratford left his family and a prosperous medical practice in Oregon in response to President Roosevelt’s plea for doctors. Lieutenant Commander Stratford served his country for several years as a medical officer in the Pacific. He was present at the battle of Iwo Jima and cared for many of the victims of the fighting. 1
While doctors in Europe cared for the wounded in a variety of difficult battles, they were also part of the overwhelming task of liberating concentration camps. Dr. Wallace E. Hess was one of the doctors who participated in the liberation of concentration camps. An avid journal keeper, Hess wrote of his powerful experiences in his journal.
During the Pacific War, the Bataan Death March and the associated camps were filled with horror. The marchers were American, Filipino, British and other Prisoners of War who had been victims of the forced surrender of the Bataan Peninsula and Island of Corregidor in the Philippines in January 1942. During the ensuing three and one-half years, thousands of prisoners died from abuse, malnutrition, disease and other causes.
One prisoner, Clarence Bramley, was a camp tailor. His skills did not alleviate his suffering. Near the end of the war, modest materials were gathered and Bramley stayed up into the night to construct an American flag assembled out of parachute fabrics. Upon the liberation of the prisoners, Bramley was given the flag in recognition of his workmanship. 2
Another flag with symbolic significance was created in Germany at the war’s end. Army Chaplain, Charles “Harry” Washburn, determined that he must have a United States flag to display over a cemetery in Hamlein, Germany. He wanted to do this in honor of his fallen comrades on the first Memorial Day following the European War. Finding that there were no regimental sized flags readily available, Chaplain Washburn commissioned a group of nuns to create an American flag. Using habits for the field of blue, white muslin sheets for the white stars and red fabric from a Nazi banner, the nuns were successful in their endeavor. In exchange for their services, Chaplain Washburn paid the nuns with 20 pounds of sugar and 50 pounds of white flour. The tribute flag was completed just in time for Memorial Day. 3
The impact of the war on family life on the homefront was intense. Vivid examples of this were the tear–stained cheeks and red eyes of loved ones wishing young soldiers safety as they headed off to war. In the windows of parents and wives of the soldiers were the service banners representing one or more loved ones off to fight in the war.
Rationing was everywhere. Victory gardens were a symbol of home industry. During the war, holiday celebrations were greatly curtailed and women took up jobs generally reserved for men. The famous wartime fireside chats with President Franklin Roosevelt also brought the nation together.
Sadly, the war was also a time of distrust towards Americans of German, Italian and Japanese ancestry. As a result, internment camps were established throughout the U.S. for families with such national ties. The Topaz Internment Camp, outside of Delta, Utah, was for those of Japanese extraction.
Determined to shake off the burden of discrimination, young men with Japanese or German lineage enlisted in the service in an effort to turn back prejudice and fight for their beloved country. For example, the famed 442 Regimental Combat Team of the 100th Battalion composed of Japanese-Americans was one of the most decorated American units of the war. It was said of the 442nd that they fought two wars — one in Europe and one at home. 4
In truth, the story of LDS involvement in the war is an international story of service. While the total number of members outside the United States who participated in the war was modest, it was, nonetheless, significant. 5 Because Church members came from various nations and both sides of the conflict, the war experience began well before Pearl Harbor. Worldwide, there were approximately 850,000 members of the Church at the time of the outbreak of the War.6 Church membership in Germany ranked third behind the United States and Canada.
The first recorded deaths of Latter-day Saint soldiers were German soldiers who were killed just days after the German invasion of Poland. 7 Church members from other lands were also involved in the fighting from the earliest stages of the war. These soldiers came from such places as Great Britain, Australia, and Canada and all shared the common purpose of turning back the Axis powers.
The contribution of Latter-day Saints to the war was significant — including those who paid the ultimate price for freedom. By the end of the war, approximately 5,000 Latter-day Saint servicemen from Allied and Axis nations had died. 8 It was not uncommon for Latter-day Saint families to lose one or more sons in combat. One particularly poignant example of such loss came very near the end of the war and in the life of a Latter-day Saint family living in California. The only son of Ralph and Lulu Jensen, James Ralph, entered the Navy in 1942 and eventually trained and rose to the level of an Electrician’s Mate Third Class. Soon after he volunteered for submarine service and was assigned to the USS Bullhead. Tragically, James Ralph died aboard the submarine, likely on the same day that the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. The Bullhead is perhaps the last vessel in the U.S. Navy to be lost to enemy fire. 9
Like those of other religions, most Latter-day Saints who served in the war maintained strong faith and reliance upon God. Wherever sufficient numbers of Latter-day Saint servicemen could be found, the Church organized groups and designated group leaders to conduct Church meetings and other activities. Church services were often held under adverse conditions in places such as pup tents, open fields, and bombed-out buildings. In addition, Latter-day Saint sailors met on combat ships. Examples of such meetings are reflected in the sacrament trays from the USS Intrepid and USS Nevada. The cups in the water trays were fashioned from spent shell casings.
Occasionally, circumstances allowed an enterprising group of soldiers to improve the conditions under which they worshipped. One group of Latter-day Saint soldiers erected a small brick chapel on the island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea. 10 Chaplain Eldin Ricks dedicated this chapel. A model of this chapel, possibly the first LDS edifice built in Italy, is also a part of this exhibition.
The role of military chaplains was important in the war. Like other chaplains, Latter-day Saint chaplains cared for the spiritual needs of all members of the armed forces without regard for religious affiliation. Their work was not dissimilar from that of other chaplains. It definitely was not limited to organizing formal worship meetings. Latter-day Saint chaplains provided a crucial link between the Church and its members in the service. In World War I, there were only three Latter-day Saint chaplains. By the end of World War II, there were forty-six LDS chaplains commissioned by the United States military.
The duties of the chaplain included visiting the sick and injured, caring for the despairing, organizing non-denominational church services, conducting marriages, corresponding with soldiers’ families, and working side-by-side with servicemen in combat. One of the most difficult aspects of their work was conducting funerals and dedicating graves. Chaplain Eldin Ricks was a well regarded leader who served in the European Theater, primarily in Italy. He recounts having dedicated ten graves in a single day. 11
One of the most difficult settings Latter-day Saints found themselves in was the environment of a prisoner of war camp. Harold “Hal” Gunn and William “Bill” McKell were LDS prisoners of war who are remembered in this exhibition. Both were incarcerated in Stalag Luft III.
Like other religious faiths, the impact of the war on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dramatic. One measure of the impact of the War was evidenced in the severe curtailment of various activities of the Church. Within weeks of the USA declaration of war, the Church issued several policy directives aimed at reducing the meetings and activities of various auxiliaries. 12 These actions came in response to travel restrictions imposed by the federal government during the war years. 13 In early 1942, the Tabernacle was closed and only General Authorities and selected priesthood leaders were invited to attend general conferences convened in both the Assembly Hall adjacent to the Salt Lake Temple and in the temple itself. 14 The tradition of Christmas lights on Temple Square was suspended until after the war and the yearly Hill Cumorah pageant near Palmyra, New York was also cancelled.
In October 1942, the Church organized the General Latter-day Saint Servicemen’s Committee and named Elder Harold B. Lee as chairman and Hugh B. Brown as servicemen’s coordinator. 15 The purpose of the committee was to assist Latter-day Saints in uniform wherever they were stationed. Both leaders traveled extensively and met, taught and counseled Latter-day Saint young men. Where larger numbers of servicemen could be gathered, Latter-day Saint chaplains organized servicemen’s conferences. 16 These gatherings provided a spiritual feast. Conference participants engaged in a variety of activities including socials and Church meetings.
The Serviceman’s Committee issued a pocket-sized Book of Mormon and the Church publication Principles of the Gospel. Additionally, a small servicemen’s edition of the Church News was extensively distributed. 17 Examples of these and other publications are included in the exhibition. A serviceman’s edition of the Book of Mormon belonging to President Boyd K. Packer, currently Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is a poignant example of deriving comfort from faith. The pages of this volume with its colored highlighting and handwritten notes provide insight into the spiritual dimension of his experience in searching the scriptures. Scripture study and related activities provided respite from the violence of war.
Finding an end to the bloodshed of World War II was a long, terribly painful process. In Europe, the final months of war brought violence of the kind that the human family has rarely experienced. Beginning with the Battle of the Bulge, which lasted from mid-December of 1944 until the end of January 1945 and cost each side over 80,000 lives, to the final march on Berlin, the fighting was terrible. The air campaign over Germany alone imposed deadly consequences. The German civilians suffered greatly during this period. During a three day assault on Dresden, Germany in February of 1945 between 25,000-35,000 Germans were killed. Other German cities were likewise heavily damaged by the bombing strikes. Finally after nearly six years of fighting, the guns were silenced in Europe when, on May 8, 1945, Germany unconditionally surrendered. Unfortunately, the end of the war in Europe did not mean an end to all hostilities. The war in the Pacific continued to rage on for months after the close of the European conflict. In fact, some of the worst battles of the Pacific War were experienced during the summer of 1945 during the final assault of Allied Forces on Japan. Finally, on August 15, 1945, the Japanese unconditionally surrendered following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Until the bombs were dropped, many had anticipated a full invasion of Japan. Terrible in their impact and controversial by their very nature, these bombs nevertheless accelerated an end to the carnage.
One of the inspiring elements of the strength and endurance of soldiers of WWII is that most were able to return home from the war and resume a normal life. They went on to become scoutmasters, shop owners, and church and community leaders. They raised families and, in most ways, experienced life just as the rest of us. The United States and the rest of the world have much to be grateful for because of the sacrifices of the World War II generation, which has been termed the greatest generation by many.
A statement at a cemetery built for Allied soldiers who died in the war in Kohima, in the northeast Indian state of Nagaland, captures the touching sentiment of deceased soldiers: “For your tomorrow, we gave our today.” This was true also for those who survived the war. Reflecting on the story of World War II as reflected in this exhibition, each of us has the opportunity to deepen our appreciation for those who sacrificed so much.
1 Stratford, E. Wayne. Saints at War Collection. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University.
2 Bramley, Clarence. Saints at War Collection. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University.
3 Washburn, Harold. Unpublished account in possession of Robert C. Freeman, Brigham Young University.
4 Two Latter-day Saints who were numbered among those who served in this unit were
Arthur Nishimoto and Roy Tsuya. Each has accounts in the Saints at War Collection in the
L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Brigham Young University.
5 It is estimated that approximately 20-25 percent of Church members lived internationally at this time. Church efforts to track the actual number of Latter-day Saints in the military,
at home, and abroad did not begin until 1942.
6 Deseret News 1998 Church Almanac. Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1998, 653.
7 Dr. Roger Minert, a BYU professor, is currently conducting research into German LDS casualties in the war. His as yet unpublished research suggests Wilhelm Rosenkranz as one of the first Latter-day Saints to have died in the war. His death occurred as a result of a battle near Laczyca, Poland on September 10th, 1939. (Stern, October 1939, 372.)
8 Boone, Joseph F. The Roles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in Relation to the United States Military, 1900-1975. Vol. 1, 354.
9 Blosil, Georgia Jensen. Account of James Ralph Jensen. Saints at War Collection. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University.
10 Deseret News: Church News Edition, May 20, 1944, 10.
11 Ricks, Eldin. Saints at War Collection. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University.
12 Deseret News: Church News Edition, February 21, 1942, 1-2.
13 Dew, Sheri L. Go Forward with Faith. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996, 125. The policy was dated January 17, 1942.
14 Ibid., 126
15 Deseret News 1999-2000 Church Almanac. Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1998, 136-137. Hugh B. Brown also presided over the British Mission during the last years of the war. One and a half years earlier, in May 1941, Hugh B. Brown was assigned as Latter-day Saint
servicemen’s coordinator.
16 These conferences varied both in size and location. They were held in such locations as
the Philippines, the Pacific Isles, Hawaii, the Marianas, Italy, and Great Britain. After the war,
conferences were held in Japan.
17 Deseret News: Church News Edition, May 15, 1944, 1.