Call of Duty

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In 1943, the USA was smack dab in the middle of WWII, and graduating college students were faced with the inevitable: enlistment. A cartoon in the Jayhawker magazine shows the four steps awaiting them: graduation and swearing in…

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…securing fatigues and heading into combat.

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How frustrating it must have been to finally achieve graduation, to fill your head with knowledge, only to enter a war where it may be blown off.

John Conard, Editor-In-Chief, shared these words:

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Inside Yank, Part II

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Yank addressed the realities of the American soldier in his own words, from discharge to depression, all in one panel.

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This issue summed up the progress made in the war over the past year, without mincing words (B-29s pounded hell out of the Jap mainland).

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The common bond of a shared experience gave comfort to men who had been to hell and back.  Humor was often the best salve.

Yank009Here a British soldier conveys the perception of American soldiers as lousy lovers:

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Grand company indeed.

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Interesting words from FDR, who had passed only eight months prior to this publication. Yank014

Inside Yank, Part I

Heeeeeere's Lucy!
Yup, that’s Lucille Ball.

I’ve been going through some of Granddad’s WWII items, and I stumbled upon this Yank magazine, dated Dec 28, 1945. Christmas was upon the nation, and the war was over.

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But even though the war was over, many American soldiers had yet to return home.

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It is fascinating to read how the servicemen felt about what should be done with the secret of the atomic bomb.

Yank008As you might guess, the centerfold included these lovely ladies:

Yank003Apparently, the servicemen were feeling a little frisky once they landed on familiar soil.

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And there are some (understandably so) not quite politically correct cartoons…

Yank010Stay tuned for Part II for another inside glimpse into Yank, the army weekly.

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