Asheville and Western North Carolina in World War II

Images of America: North Carolina

by Reid Chapman, Deborah Miles

World War II served as a rallying call in Asheville and Western North Carolina, putting the citizens back to work. Asheville's two strongest economic sectors, tourism and medicine; its beautiful isolation; and advanced hospitals served the nation's needs during the Second World War. The United States secreted German and Japanese businessmen, federal agencies, and valuable art in these mountains, and recuperating soldiers found solace in the camps and inns. Meanwhile our citizens-black and white men, women, and children-offered themselves up for service. Images of Asheville and Western North Carolina in World War II tells their stories, from Pearl Harbor's bombing to the study of the long-term effects of radiation on the Japanese, from the far Pacific to stateside support groups and local sacrifices.

Genres: World War II, History, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[John Galluzzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe the third chapter in this book represents the most intense reading I've ever experienced with an Arcadia title. The stories in this chapter generally focus on residents of Asheville and surrounding communities who served overseas during World War II. They were locals, refugees who made Western North Carolina their homes after the war, Black Americans who returned to the stupidity of racism after serving their country. They liberated concentration camps, escaped from prisoner of war camps and fought on the land, in the air and on the sea. Considering the structured format, the chapter, and the book in general, has an outsized impact; it feels like it's twice as long for someone pausing to consider the humanity on display.

And, as interesting as this chapter is, the alternative focus on the home front is just as engaging. Between the desire of the locals to participate and support the mission in some way and the necessary diaspora of officials and official functions from Washington DC to places afar but not too far, Asheville was a happening place during World War II. The authors capture this story well, with the reminiscences of more than 100 people who were there, who served and who lived long enough to look back.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting pictures and captions from the Asheville area during WWII. The Grove Park Inn photos were two of my favorites.