Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 506
September 12, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Sept. 12, 1941: US Coast Guard intercepts ship in Mackenzie Bay, Greenland carrying Germans establishing weather station. First flight of prototype Horsa glider.
September 11, 2011
Faith Deployed Again Giveaway Winners
On September 11, it seems fitting to honor the families of those who serve in our military. These Home Front heroes serve quietly and without accolade. Often military wives live far away from the support of family and friends. Please remember them. Pray for them. Reach out to those military families in your community.The winners of Faith Deployed...Again: More Encouragement for Military Wives by Jocelyn Green are "mrskatbaca" and "Evy," both of whom are in the middle of their husband's deployments.
Thank you to all the members of our military and to the families who support them. We appreciate and honor you.
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Sept. 11, 1941: Ground breaking ceremony for the Pentagon. President Roosevelt says US Navy will shoot German or Italian ships in US waters on sight (due to USS Greer incident on 9/4/41).
September 10, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Sept. 10, 1941: First US-made B-24s leave for Britain for use by the RAF under Lend-Lease. Cab Calloway records "Blues in the Night."
September 9, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Sept. 9, 1941: Iran formally submits to Allied occupation (USSR north of Tehran, UK south, Tehran shared), which aids in bringing supplies to USSR.
September 8, 2011
Book Beat - Faith Deployed...Again
The September 11 attacks altered life in America. For most of us, this meant little more than increased patriotism and longer lines at the airport, but military families experienced deep and lasting changes. Troop deployments have become more frequent, longer, and far more dangerous.Sadly, military wives are often forgotten. During deployments, these women function as single parents, deal with their own fears and concerns, and keep life normal for the children while keeping Daddy real to them as well.
Author Jocelyn Green, a former Coast Guard wife, compiled a series of devotions for military wives in the award-winning Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody Publishers, 2008), and now another compilation, Faith Deployed...Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives.
In Faith Deployed...Again , thirty military wives and Blue-Star moms share heartfelt, biblical advice in short devotions that can be read in snippets of time. Each devotion is beautifully written, with personal anecdotes, Scripture passages, and prayers. Even though I'm not a military wife, I was moved and convicted by many of the readings. Excellent advice is given on protecting marriages, caring for yourself, and providing stability for children.
Faith Deployed...Again would be excellent for military wives, friends or family of military wives who would like to support them better, and even for women whose husbands travel.
Jocelyn Green also has an excellent Faith Deployed Website, which provides information, resources, and an online community for military wives.
Thanks to Moody Publishers, I have two copies of Faith Deployed...Again to give away! Please leave a comment with your email address in the following format: sarah [at] sarahsundin [dot] com, so I can contact the winner. I would love for these books to go where they are needed!
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Sept. 8, 1941: Siege of Leningrad begins as Germans completely surround the city. The siege will last 872 days.
September 7, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Sept. 7, 1941: Sara Delano Roosevelt, mother of the president, dies at age 86 in Hyde Park, NY.
September 6, 2011
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Sept. 6, 1941: Vilna ghetto opens in Lithuania for 40,000 Jews. Japanese open offensive toward Changsha, China.
September 5, 2011
Lessons from the 1940s - Labor Counts
On Labor Day I thought it was appropriate to honor the vital role of production in the Allied victory in World War II.The United States was well situated to become the "Arsenal of Democracy." Other than a few random bombings from Japanese submarine-based planes and shellings from submarines, America was free from damage. The factories and shipyards functioned free from danger. The US also had a large industrial infrastructure with Yankee flexibility. Assembly lines for civilian cars and washing machines were reconfigured to crank out jeeps and tanks. Women stepped forward to work in the factories, with 16 million women in the workforce by 1943.
Work days were lengthened and manufacturing wages rose, from an average of $25 per week in 1940 to $45.70 in 1944, while civilian prices and rents were frozen.
American industry and workers stepped up production so that by 1944, real economic output had increased 150%. By 1942, the United States produced more arms than all the Axis countries combined. As a result, America was able to keep itself and the rest of the Allies well supplied.
Dark spots existed. Despite taking a "no-strike pledge" after Pearl Harbor, unions launched many strikes that slowed production, especially in the coal and steel industries, and in the railroads. The threat of government takeover, public outrage, and disgust from the military ended these strikes. In June 1944, sailors on the USS Coos Bay sarcastically sent $412 in pennies to buy off the workers at the Wright aircraft factory in Ohio.
In the end, American production was a key factor in the Allied victory. By keeping the Allies suppled with arms, vehicles, planes, ships, equipment, uniforms, medical supplies, and food, the "Arsenal of Democracy" lived up to its name.
