The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tennessee in World War II-- Part 1: A Huge Impact

From the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

The total war effort reshaped Tennessee's whole economy from a primarily rural, agricultural one to an increasingly urban, industrialized one.  Besides the impact of all the people serving in the military, thousands migrated from the countryside for new opportunities in the burgeoning war industries.

Tennessee also played a huge role in the creation of the Atomic Age at Oak Ridge which grew out of the Manhattan Project.

More than 300,000 Tennesseeans served in the Armed Forces and 5,731 were killed.  Six won the nation's highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Cordell Hull served as FDR's Secretary of State.

In addition, Tennessee became the location of many military installations,training facilities and prisoner of war camps.  Another 280,000 worked in war manufacturing.

--GreGen

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