The Home Front

The beginning of the 1940s offered new hope as we were edging our way out of the stagnant economic situation of the ’30s. However, on Dec. 7, 1941, the entire outlook of the United States changed. Grief, anxiety, fear and indignation swept the country after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Our military was faced immediately with problems that could not be solved because it had not been prepared for this confrontation. Young men began signing up to fight in the war. The government quickly froze prices and began restricting regulating distribution of all farm goods. Strategic and important material such as rubber, copper, steel, tin, aluminum and lumber were put on restricted lists. The production of automobiles and rubber tires for civilian use ceased.

The county of San Mateo had around 140,000 residents and they geared up immediately to stop the possible invasion from the west. In San Mateo, Paul Fagan showed his patriotism by financing a tower to the west of San Mateo that was used as an observation post to detect airplanes that might bomb the Bay. "Fagan’s Tower” was manned throughout the war by volunteers. Crystal Springs dam was immediately declared a vital point on the Peninsula and it was closed and guarded by armed personnel. By the end of 1942, 14,660 volunteer hours had been given since Pearl Harbor by Millbrae volunteers in the Ground Observer Corps. These hours were spent scanning the sky, searching for hostile aircraft. The personal inconveniences and sacrifice of these people were enormous. The ship-building establishment in South San Francisco began revving up for production of war-time ships and in the southern part of South San Francisco cement ships (barges) were constructed that were used to tow war cargo. Coyote Point would open up a merchant marine school that would supply personnel to run the much-needed ships across the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Electronic tubes and material for the new radar screens were much in demand. EiMac in San Bruno became an extremely important tube-manufacturing industry, and it broke the male/female barrier by hiring women to do the work.

This was a great change in attitude for working people in the United States. To supply labor for all of these rapidly-built industries, a huge heretofore untapped labor force from the Midwest and the South migrated to California in vast numbers to help in the war effort. It was a time of great influx of minority individuals, and this put a strain on the society even in war time.

There was much that had to be done by citizens on the local level as well. Because of the influx of thousands and thousands of new workers, all apartments and vacant rooms had to be registered with the government. Rent control went into effect. In Millbrae, George Davis was named as the head of the Home Food Production Committee by the San Mateo County Agricultural Department in Redwood City. The aim of the committee was announced to be "A Victory Garden in Every Home.” The desired goal was a hearty cooperation with the home production of vegetables in every vacant space that people could find — "Victory Gardens.” Amateur gardening was encouraged and the Home Food Production Committee immediately obtained information about the resources that the state and county agriculture departments had available to grow and improve the fruits and vegetables. Local nurserymen advised that vegetable plants suitable for this locale included kale, celery, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Swiss chard, red chard, onion sets, artichokes, rhubarb and brown or white multiplier onions. Rubber scrap piles began appearing at gas stations, and metal scrap piles in the middle of cities started to grow rapidly. Contests were held in which individuals or organizations vied to collect the most amount of scrap paper, metal or rubber. The Boy Scouts became very active in collecting rubber and metal throughout the Peninsula. Wastepaper was collected. The supply of pulp and other products that are usually wasted or destroyed was destined to become the raw material for boxes and holders to send materials to the front. Cooking grease from thousands of housewives was collected and utilized in the munitions industry.

Sugar was rationed and coupons had to be applied for to buy it, as well as canned goods and meat. In the grocery store, a point value was given for the canned goods. Each can of rationed foods was stamped with both the point value and price. You could not go over the allotted points or coupons of store goods in your purchases each month. Local grocery stores began imploring people to use their ration coupons at their stores because the amount of food they got the next month from the Ration Board depended on that month’s purchases with ration cards. All types of novels were collected and sent to servicemen. Stiff penalties for gasoline hoarding were imposed and you could not store gasoline at your home. Coupons were issued for the purchase of gasoline and every motoring trip had to be essential. If it was not an essential trip, you walked. The Sunday afternoon "drive” in the country was stopped.

The many hardships that the American people went through in World War II were essential for the success of the war and were endured to support the troops who were putting their very lives on the line.