World War II was a tough time for this country. Even though the war began in 1939 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the United States did not get involved until the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This war would test the nation’s economy, resilience, and strength. Many sacrifices had to be made by citizens of the United States. For example, during 1943 the government issued shoe rationing (three pairs of leather shoes per year), meat rationing (28oz per week), and standstill wages and prices to streamline the economy (A WW2 Timeline). All these sacrifices compounded with the impeding war put a damper on many Americans; however there was one aspect of their lives that was thriving.Job availability increased dramatically with the start of the war. With all the soldiers fighting overseas, new workers were needed to replace them. Also, new jobs were created such as weapon manufacturing, making cloths for soldiers, and transporting goods for the war. One of the businesses that profited greatly from World War II was the railroads. One such station, Ogden Union Station, played a major role in transporting military goods along with the usual passengers and cargo. Special “troop trains” would ferry around the soldiers from town to town. One interesting insight that an observer at this sight had was that the soldiers didn’t care where they were or where they were going. They were just happy to be traveling around the country. At one point during the war, a train rolled through the station every five minutes (How Trains Helped Win a War).
Armed with this newfound knowledge I have some new insight into the photo I picked to analyze. Perhaps this train contains soldiers, making it a “troop train”. Perhaps the men I previously thought to be workers are actually soldiers that have just been dropped off and are eager to explore the city. Also, I wonder if within five minutes another locomotive will pull into the station to unload precious cargo such as gasoline or a car full of passengers.
A conflicting feeling between the governments rationed goods and the flourishing railroad business could arise in these men. On one hand each man is forced to consume a rationed amount of food, while on the other they are having the most successful years in their railroad careers. It is a perplexing situation that I’m sure is a topic in the discussion between the man and the conductor. With trains coming in and out at a high rate many repairs would have to be made. Another possibility is that these men helped to repair this train and get it ready for its journey. In this case, the two conversing men could be discussing the repairs made and any precautions necessary for a smooth ride. One concept that I know is present in this picture after gaining background information is that these men know their job is vital to the success of the United States in World War II. With this knowledge they can complete their job with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Works Cited
"A WW2 Timeline." World War 2 Timelines 1939-1945. 2006. www.worldwar-2.net, Web. 17 Feb 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment