War on the Homefront
World War ll was not only fought abroad. The people at home were fighting emotional battles. Many mothers and fathers were left without their children, many wives without husbands, and even children without fathers-although this was more uncommon because most of the men in the war were only teenagers or in their early twenties. These people were more often than not, glued to their radios, listening to make sure that their boy had not been killed. Although many men were able to come home, there were plenty that didn’t have that luxury. The mothers who lost sons, came to be known as Gold Star Mothers. This group came about by women hanging a banner with a gold star on it (pictured above) in their window to symbolize that their son had been killed in the war.
We do not have any records of John’s family while he was in the war or when he was killed in action. We assume that the protocol for a fallen soldier was followed. When a soldier is killed, a representative from their branch of the military brings a telegram to the soldier’s next of kin to let them know that their relative has been a victim of war. As stated, we do not have a record of John’s family being informed, but on June 6th 1944, Jennie Williamson became a Gold Star Mother.
We do not have any records of John’s family while he was in the war or when he was killed in action. We assume that the protocol for a fallen soldier was followed. When a soldier is killed, a representative from their branch of the military brings a telegram to the soldier’s next of kin to let them know that their relative has been a victim of war. As stated, we do not have a record of John’s family being informed, but on June 6th 1944, Jennie Williamson became a Gold Star Mother.