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Second World War: War Bond Drives, Rationing, And The War Effort in Our Farming Community

By Capper's Staff
Published on June 18, 2012

We lived in a farming community during the Second World War. It seemed that all of us were busy contributing to the war effort every day. We children all had a container that we filled with nails we picked up. We also collected aluminum scraps. During school months we rolled bandages and made card table covers for use in USOs. Those mitered corners were something else! The community had War Bond drives that included box socials, pie suppers and selling cakes. I remember cakes being auctioned for a sizeable sum, then turned back and sold again.

Then there was rationing. I remember taking a toothpaste tube in so another tube could be purchased, waiting until we could have a pair of shoes, collecting sugarless recipes, learning war songs and feeling proud.

There were posters everywhere. My favorite was the one with an American flag and a bomber. The words “Keep ’em flying,” were printed on it. That one is still portrayed on the side of a huge brick building in a local town.

Glenna Turner
Hardesty, Oklahoma


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.