Download the Florida World War II Heritage Trail
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
. A Florida Heritage Publication Horida World War II Heritaee Trai ^ ere highly resolve that these dead mWmj^^ImilmmlB. vain . MBER DEC, \ ,^ /, //. <^ o> Florida's World War II Memorial 1999 Governor Job Bush History. The museum exhibit, signed n law providing for the entitled "Florida Remembers World Increation of Florida's World War II," documents the state's re- War 11 Memorial. Since that sponse to the war, including patri- time, the Department of Vet- otic activities on the home front and erans' Affairs has conducted fund- the establishment of military train- raising, concept development, and ing bases throughout the state. This design work concerning this long display was dedicated and opened overdue tribute honoring the sacri- by Governor Bush on December O fices made by Florida's World War 7, 2001 - the 60th Anniversary of II veterans and those who serx'ed at America's entry into World War %D V^^"^ home. II. The exhibit traveled to museums in Pensacola, Miami and Orlando. American History teachers now Florida's World War II Memorial is "Florida Remembers World War II," have a World War II educational a unique, multifaceted living Me- rededicated on Veterans Day 2004, is curriculum supplement on compact morial. The components include: a on display as a permanent exhibit in disks, featuring historical education- World War II exhibit in the Museum the Museum of Florida History. al materials, personal histories and Florida History; site filled of a Web interviews. with historical resources; a World The Department of State developed of War II educational curriculum a Web site (www.floridawwii.com) The Department State, Division of supplement available to high school that includes a statewide network Historical Resources, developed this American History teachers; this of World War II resources featuring Florida Heritage Trail guidebook, Florida Heritage Trail guidebook military installations, veterans' or- honoring the many contributions dedicated to Florida's involvement ganizations, historic sites, museums, that Florida citizens made at home war. in World War II; and, a permanent libraries, universities, and histori- and abroad during the World War II in Tallahas- cal societies, accessible to the monument made A permanent stone monument see. public through technology and the dedicated in Tallahassee on Veterans Internet. The initial phase of the Memo- Day 2004 is the final project element. rial project was conducted by the Funded though a grant by the The centerpiece of the monument Department of State, and resulted Florida Department of Education is a replica of Florida's pillar in the in the development of a World War and produced by the Mary Brogan National World War II Memorial in D.C. includes II display at the Museum of Florida Museum in Tallahassee, high school Washington, and a marker for each of Florida's 67 Florida WWII Memorial rendering courtesy of Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe counties. These markers connect Architects, P.A. AIA and honor local contributions to the overall war effort. During World War II, 16 mil- lion Americans served in uniform, of which 248,000 were Floridians. In addition to these veterans, thousands of other Floridians contributed to the war effort at home building roads, working in manufacturing plants, building and running military training installations, and operat- ing vital businesses that contrib- uted to the nationwide efforts that preserved the freedoms we enjoy. Today, more than 500,000 World War II veterans are residents of Florida. K Table of Contents Home Front-Battlefront: Florida During World War II 2 Northwest 7 North Central 14 Northeast 21 Central 28 West Central 33 East Central 40 Southwest 46 Southeast 49 Ships Sunk by U-Boats 61 Selected Bibliography 64 Glossary 65 - Author, introduction and sidebars Dr. David J. Coles, Professor of History, Political Science and Philosophy, Longwood University, Longwood, Virginia Research and author of site entries - David Gregory, Research Historian and Grants Manager, Division of Historical Resources Graphic Design: Jonathan Lee Lyons, LyonsDigital Media, Tallahassee, Florida. On the cover: "Remember Dec. 7th!" Poster by Allen Saalburg, published by the Office of War Information, 1942. The quotation is from the conclusion of Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." The image is from an original WWII U.S. Government-produced poster designed to show American resolve following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many of the sites identified in this publication are listed in the National Regis- ter (NR) of Historic Places, either individually or as contributing resources in a historic district. The National Register is an official list of historically significant properties located throughout the country. The list is maintained by the National Park Service, and includes places that have been documented as being significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture, at the local, state, or national level. For more information on the National Register, con- sult the National Park Service's National Register website at www.cr.nps.gov/ nr/, or call the Florida Division of Historical Resources at (800) 847-7278 or vis- it www.flheritage.com. 1 MTBA SUNDAY NEWSDEMOCH \T ixm \ Home Front- U.S. AT WAR JAPAN'S PLANES AHACK Battlefront: AT PEARL HARBOR AND MANIU Florida During World War II Timeline World War II 1939 Second World War marked retirees and immigrants, Florida's August 23 - Nazi-Soviet Non- Thethe emergence of Rorida as a population also included more older Aggression Pact signed modern, influential state. The and foreign-born citizens than its September 1 - German conflict spurred economic develop- southern neighbors. invasion of Poland, start of ment and led to a postwar popula- On December 7, 1941, when Florid- VVt)rld War II tion surge that made Florida one ians learned of the Japanese attack of the most populous states in the September 3 - Great Britain on Pearl Harbor, few could have nation by the dawn of the 21st cen- and France declare war on imagined the impact the war would tury. It brought increased prosperity Germany have on their state. A tremendous to both rural and urban areas of the migration of military personnel took 1940 state and hastened the demands of place, with more than 170 installa- May 10 - German invasion of minority groups for greater economic tions established or expanded. Addi- France and the Low Countries and political opportunities. Florid- tionally, civilians came to work in the ians overwhelmingly supported U.S. June 21 - France surrenders to various camps and bases, and in the participation in the "Good War." Germany shipyards and other industries that Through their efforts on both the expanded during the conflict. World August - Commencement of home front and the battlefield they War II, to an extent greater than the Battle of Britain brought about the defeat of Nazism, previous conflicts, mobilized the Fascism, and Japanese mihtarism in September 3 - Destroyers for nation's population. Many soldiers, the greatest conflict in modern world Bases deal between U.S. and sailors and marines who served in history. Great Britain Rorida later returned to the state The collapse of the land boom of the to live. The state's population grew September 1 6 - Selective 1920s, followed by the Great Depres- more than 46% during the decade Service Act passed by U.S. sion of the 1930s hurt the state's of the 1940s, and would expand at Congress economic development. Still, by the an even more rapid pace during the 1941 late 1930s and early 1940s Florida's 1950s. World War II served as a cata- January 7 - Inauguration of climate, beaches, and recreational lyst for the state's explosive postwar Spessard Holland, Florida's activities annually attracted several growth. 28th governor million tourists to the peninsula. Florida's strategic location made Defense appropriations and New March 11 - Lend Lease Act the state vital for national defense. Deal initiatives also contributed to an passed by U.S. Congress. Planes and ships from Florida's bases economic revival. The state's popula- Authorized military aid to helped protect the sea lanes in the tion on the eve of war numbered just Allies Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and under two million, with the largest the Caribbean, and the state was June 22 - Opening of Operation cities being Jacksonville, Miami, and viewed as an important first line Barbarossa, Germany's Tampa. In relation to other south- of defense for the southern United invasion of the Soviet Union ern states, Florida's population was States, the Caribbean Basin, and relatively urban, with two-thirds December 7 - Japanese attack the Panama Canal. Even before the of the population living in cities or on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii outbreak of the war, new installa- towns. Still, North Florida and large tions were built to house the prewar December 8 - U.S. declaration portions of the central and southern defense buildup. For the Army, of war on Japan sections of the state were decidedly Camp Blanding near Starke became rural in nature. Because of northern one of the largest training bases in K the Southeastern United States, with more volunteered or were drafted nine divisions and many indepen- into service. December 11 - Germany and dent units passing through its facih- Italy declare war on the U. S.; Roridians served in all major the- ties, while Camp Gordon Johnston U.S. reciprocates aters of the war, and thousands paid at Carrabelle served as the Army's the ultimate sacrifice. More than 1942 major amphibious training center. 4,600 Floridians serving in the armed April 9 - Surrender of U.S. Army Air Force bases included Val- forces died during the war, with troops on Bataan, Philippine paraiso's Eglin Field, Drew and Mac- battle deaths numbering 3,174. These Islands Dill Airfields at Tampa, Dale Mabry figures included 3,540 Army soldiers Field in Tallahassee, Buckingham and April 10 - Gulfamerica from Horida who had died of all Page Airfields in Fort Myers, Panama torpedoed off Jacksonville causes, with naval combat casualties City's Tyndall Army Airfield, and Beach (killed and wounded) numbering Avon Park, Boca Raton, Homestead, 2,308.