Exhibit Overview
World War II had a profound effect on every aspect of American social, political, and cultural life. For many who served, the war provided opportunities to learn new skills, experience new places, and escape the poverty that hung over life during the Great Depression.
It was also a war fought by a segregated military, rife with racism and antisemitism. A war that large segments of the American public were loath to enter before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, despite widespread knowledge of the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy.
The war’s aftermath spawned a new age of American Democracy as the G.I. Bill expanded access to higher education and home ownership and the Civil Rights Movement fought racial hatred and staked new claims to equality and freedom.
However, the costs for victory were steep and not all of the results matched the dreams of those who fought for Democracy. More than 410,000 American service members and civilians lost their lives, including 784 from the state of Delaware. Many more returned home wounded and many would cope with trauma for the rest of their lives. Not all service members benefited equally from the G.I. Bill. Benefits were often denied to African-Americans and the Merchant Marines were excluded for decades. Hopes of a lasting peace were overshadowed by the dawn of the Cold War and the nuclear age.
The JHSD Voices of Service explores the impact of the tumultuous events of World War II, on an intimate scale. The letters of seven Jewish American service members, written to Mollye Sklut at the Delaware YM-YWHA, provide a glimpse of their lived experiences. Their words shed light on their experiences, concerns, and aspirations. They illustrate how one woman played a major role in helping maintain the close-knit Jewish American community in Wilmington, Delaware during a time of international crisis. Ultimately, they offer a glimpse of humanity forced to participate in the most inhumane of endeavors.