Betty Howitt was born in DeKalb County Missouri in 1923, attending high school in King’s City, and continuing her education at Maryville College. The main focus of this interview centers around Betty’s life during the 1940’s, around World War II. Betty explains that she was teaching county grade school during the war and recalls an experience signing people up for rationing books. She briefly mentions her own experience with rationing during the war times, like using feed sacs to make clothing. She also speaks about how they received information during the war, mentioning news reels in the movies, newspapers, and the radio. She explains what they did for fun during and before the war, speaking about watching a lot of movies, reading, and listening to music shows on the radio. She mentions that a lot of the movies she watched “went along with the war.” She mentions her experience celebrating the end of the war in Albuquerque.

Bob Landes was born on July 17, 1925, in Ridgeway, Missouri and attended Bethany High School for four years. Bob described hearing about the Pearl Harbor attacks and being drafted into the Army shortly afterwards. Bob completed his basic training before moving on to parachutist school, where he passed. Bob discusses that he never really got used to jumping out of a plane, and when he was deployed to Europe, he was assigned as a truck driver to another unit. It was during his time as a truck driver that Bob participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Bob mentioned that he served on the frontline for only a brief time before falling back to the rear with the rest of his unit. After the Battle of the Bulge, Bob states that he rejoined his paratrooper unit and participated in Operation Market Garden. After that, Bob again returned to the rear for the duration of the war. After the war ended, Bob described staying behind in Europe as part of the occupation army. After Bob was finally sent home, he mentioned that he farmed with his brother, yet did not mention for how long after the war he did this.

Don Deaver was born in Otego Kansas in 1927, his family moved to King City in Missouri, and he has never moved since. He tells us about how his early years were very peaceful and made up a lot of his fun memories while being in the community. After high school he began basic training in the Great Lakes far away from home. He then was stationed in Hawaii and Okinawa; he was able to avoid combat and mainly did mechanical repairs and working in communications. Don shares his opinions on the wars main events including D-Day, the drop of the atomic bomb and other aspects of war. One thing that stuck out was his opinion of the treatment of the prisoners of war and his views on the propaganda in the media. After the war had come to an end he returned home and there were celebrations, and he reminds us of the simplicity of life in this time. Dons interview includes his early years and the years of his and many other men that were apart of the war effort. He compares many aspects of todays life verses back then when it was much easier to afford living.

James E. Gillespie was born in Bethany, Missouri, on April 10, 1922, and went on to later serve in the army air force as a Staff Sergeant during World War II. Prior to the war, Gillespie grew up with 5 siblings and very little money. After graduating and before enlisting, he was a bellhop at a hotel in Bethany, whose interesting customers he discussed. Once in the air force, he was a crew chief, meaning he was the mechanic that had to work the whole day before take-off to make sure the airplanes were ready and up to standards. Gillespie talked about going into France being the first whole fighter-bomber squad to make it their during the war. He went to Omaha Beach after D-Day and recalled climbing into a foxhole to escape an accidental bombing caused by one of their own airplanes that killed a few men. Gillespie spoke about missing the action of D-Day for being in the hospital with diphtheria. He later detailed his return home and re-meeting the woman who would become his wife of 62 years.

Leroy Bashor was born on February 22, 1924, in Union Star, Missouri. This interview is part of the Oral Histories of Northwest Missouri in the 1940s program and is sponsored by the Nodaway County Historical Society Museum in partnership with the Missouri Humanities Council with support of the National Endowment for Humanities. This interview was conducted on February 4, 2009, at TJ’s Cafe in King City, Missouri. Leroy discusses his experiences as a private first class in the Army during World War II. He recalls his enlistment, basic training in Oklahoma, and deployment in Italy. He shares stories of combat, interactions he had with prisoners of war in Colorado, and how he returned to normal life after the war. Leroy explains how he became a farmer post-war and his utilization of the GI Bill for education. He reflects on the impact the war had on his life, his opinions about the differences between wars now and then, and expresses his insights while giving advice about what he experienced. 

Lloyd Darnell was born on July 17, 1922. Lloyd served in World War II as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army. He talks about how he grew up on a farm with one brother and three sisters. Lloyd says that when his father passed away, he and his mother moved to town. He says they never really paid attention to things like the war that were going on outside of his community. Lloyd was 19 when he enlisted in the military with five of his friends. He talks about how he had specialized training as an anti-aircraft artillery.

​Was born and raised in Northwest Missouri and farmed with his parents. Around the war Bob had just started to farm for himself when he was drafted to go to Europe. Bob explains how he thought the U.S. portrayed the war and they made it seem like they didn’t have a choice. He joined the army at 21 in 1943. Bob describes his service in Italy and then France during his deployment. Such as how they got around and what war had done to various towns in the region. Bob mentions what kind of entertainment they had, such as several USO shows. Bob goes on to say that he made plenty of friends and would write letters to home and would receive letter from home. He explains that when he came home people treated him great and he joined the American Legion. He took advantage of a few bonuses given to Veterans such as the GI Bill to help with farming. He says that prices were double for his farm then before the war. To end it he describes how the way of living had changed from before during the depression to after when everyone had money to spend.

​Clyde Tipton Rainey was born twelve miles Northeast of King City on January 8, 1923, serving in the Army in World War II. Tip went to school in Gentryville until high school where he attended in Bethany. In 1943, Tip was drafted into the war at the age of twenty. Tip mentions his basic training in Fort Custer, Michigan before voyaging to Africa to watch over German prisoners. Tip describes his trips to pick up the German prisoners, taking them back to Africa to be put in a stockade. Tip states, “we was transporting them and two of them got away and slipped away and two of our guys went after them and brought them back” (p.4). In 1946 Tip states he arrived back to the states from the war, beginning to farm with his brother. In 1948, Tip united in marriage with his wife, Nancy, who was a war widow. Nancy had a two-year old son named Jay Allenbrand. Tip joined the American Legion and VFW after serving but is only involved with the American Legion today. Tip mentions he is proud to be a veteran and was totally on board with Truman dropping a bomb.

Bob Deshler was born on July 24, 1919. Bob served in the Army during World War II and reached the rank of Sergeant. Bob is a part of the Oral Histories of the Northwest Missouri of the 1940s project. This project is a collection of interviews and oral histories of people who lived during the 1940s and World War II. This project investigates the firsthand accounts from people who are still living and their experiences during the 1940s and World War II. Bob grew up in King City, Missouri and Hiawatha, Missouri. Bob discusses his early life and enlisting in the Army. He discusses how the war was portrayed to him and how he listened to the announcement of Pearl Harbor on the radio. Bob also discusses his time in training: basic and specialized. Bob also discusses the entertainment he had while in the service. Bob discusses his interactions and others’ feelings about Patton during the war as well as his thoughts on the dropping of the atomic bomb. Bob ends the discussion with his life after his service with his wife.

Bobby was born on June 9, 1930, and Norma was born on February 23, 1930. Norma is an only child and now regrets being the only child. Her mom and dad work very hard, and although they have little money, they still raise Norma comfortably. She has five uncles who all fought in the war and who all made it back. She explains that the flag that hangs in the window represents the family members you have fighting in the war. Norma described the brutal wars her uncle fought through and how he believed in the Lord so much he did not want to kill, but it was his only choice. Norma does not remember much; she remembers reading the news through newspapers and listening to the news on the radio. The atomic bomb, according to Nora, had a significant impact and saved a lot of Americans' Lives. Bobby then explained the effect of him and the war. Bobby explained that he was not old enough to Enlist, and by the time the Korean War broke, Nora and Bobby were married and had kids already. He agreed with Norma that the atomic bomb was the right thing to do. He explained some songs and movies that came out during the war, like “This is the Army, Mr. Jones.”. Bobby and Norma described the food stamps and rations they had to experience, but they always had food on their plate. Bobby explained that today, you might not even know your neighbors, but at the time, everyone helped everyone out. Norma and Bobby explained their lives before the war, growing up while the war was happening, and life after the war.

Jackson Spiking was born on July 1, 1926, in King City, MO. This transcript is part of the Oral Histories of Northwest Missouri in the 1940s program sponsored by the Nodaway County Historical Society with the Missouri Humanities Council and supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Jackson relates his job as a paperboy and what life was like before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  He describes his job at a clothing store and his experience with shoe ration stamps. Mr. Spiking details joining the Navy to avoid the Army stating, “When I was in the Navy, I always had a clean bed, three meals a day, just as long as I didn’t have to go swimming.” Jackson describes his job as a Fire Control Operator and his experiences as part of a flotilla comprised of the USS Hancock carrier and two additional carriers, three battleships, and a couple dozen destroyers that patrolled the South Pacific. Jackson relates his continuing service after the war’s end and observations of fire-bombed cities and the primitive living conditions of the islanders.  Mr. Spiking also describes his homecoming, the meeting of his infant daughter, and his return to farming and normal life.

John Armstrong was born in Philadelphia on October 22, 1918. His father died when he was eight years old, so he moved to Indiana where he graduated from DePauw University with a major un history. John got married and had 4 kids, one of which died at a young age. He recalls waiting to be drafted, which would happen in 1943, after the United States got involved in World War II. He remembers being deployed in England and advancing though Luxembourg until reaching Czechoslovakia, place where he got the information about D-Day. He explains how his limited knowledge of German was helpful and how he was awarded a Bronze Star and rank of Staff Sergeant. John describes the tense moments during war and the limited information he received as a soldier. He further elaborates on the advancements he did and his most memorable experience at Bastogne. Finally, he explores the reasons behind wars and his critical perspective on them, and his excitement to return after WWII was over.​​

​Betty Jo Howitt was born July 27, 1929, and had one brother. The purpose of the interview is to give an idea of what it was like during times of war. At the beginning of the interview, Betty mentions that her brother served in the Navy for many years and that their family would write to him many times. She explains that during the war she was younger and wasn’t aware of what was happening but there were shortages of things and they had to figure out ways to live beyond them. She states that during the war times, it was hard on everyone. Betty did mention that even though it was hard times she enjoyed it because she found ways to spend time with family and friends and were still able to enjoy themselves. Betty explains that after the war was over everything started changing and it just isn’t the same as it used to be.

Raymond Keefhaver, born January 18, 1918, and Minnie Jean Keefhaver, born August 10, 1917, share their unique relationship in navigating the war time period. Starting out with Raymond, he served as a Tech Sgt. in World War II and shares his journey from farming in Missouri to working at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego before being drafted in 1942. He describes the challenges of maintaining B29 aircraft at a base in Victoria, Kansas, during the war, highlighting the intense workload and friendships among servicemen. Raymond expresses pride in his service and reflects on the decision to drop the atomic bomb, which he supports for its role in ending the war. Post-war, he transitioned to farming and later worked at General Motors in Fairfax, Kansas, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of veterans returning to civilian life. As for Minnie, she recounts her childhood on a farm near King City, Missouri, and her journey to becoming a hairdresser after graduating high school. Despite wartime rationing, Minnie Jean managed to navigate shortages and pursued a successful career in hairstyling, demonstrating resourcefulness and determination.

Romey Davis, who was born on September 20, 1923 in King City, Missouri. The purpose of this abstract is to give readers a look into what life was like during World War 2 for Romey. Romey grew up on a farm, until he enlisted in the Navy, then went back to farming before marrying his first wife Mary Margret. Romey also worked in the electrical business for around 30 years and then retired. After Mary passed away, Romey got married to Maxine, who he has known since childhood. During this time, he worked at the Treasurer in St. Joseph at a Christian School. Shortly after that, Maxine had passed away, and Romey went back to King City, where he hasn’t done much since. Romey also remembers being drafted into the war after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He mentions his training, and how he had assignments on different ships. He also mentions that the majority of combat he saw were suicide planes and two-man submarines. Romey was in the hospital being treated for a leg injury during D-Day. He came home after the war and mentions that it wasn’t too difficult for him to get back to civilian life.

In the interview, Virgil and Helen Smith share their experiences during the second World War, as Virgil served in the army as private first class and Helen stayed home on the farm.

Helen was born February 14, 1933 in DeKalb County as the middle child of a poor farming family. She shares the story of her upbringing, including her education in one-room schools and her family’s entertainment. She then says that her family helped the war effort by collecting scrap metal and buying savings bonds. Helen also discusses her experience rationing and wearing feed sacks, saying “that’s all I wore” Helen ends by sharing that their oldest son passed away in the Vietnam War and his experience.

Virgil was born August 30, 1923. In this interview, Virgil shares his story as he entered the army in 1943 and rose to serve as Private First Class. He describes how he trained at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts for nine months, until he went to Glasgow and then Europe and fought in France and Germany. With this, he shares that he was in the anti-aircraft artillery and witnessed many casualties. Virgil ends the interview saying he believes the bomb was the right decision.